Yan et al. (2025) Soil moisture dynamics and rainfall infiltration across vegetation types in subtropical ecosystems in Southwest China

Identification

• Journal: CATENA
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-30
• Authors: Qiao-Shun Yan, Yi Peng, Xiaojin Jiang, Peng Fu, Zhi-Yun Lu, Xiaowen Hu, Yong‐Jiang Zhang, Jiao‐Lin Zhang, Ze‐Xin Fan
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109693

Research Groups

• Yunnan Key Laboratory of Forest Ecosystem Stability and Global Change, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China
• Ailaoshan Station of Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Studies, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jingdong, Yunnan, China
• University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
• Ailaoshan Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Jingdong, Yunnan, China
• State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Hazards Risk Governance, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
• School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA

Short Summary

This study investigated soil moisture dynamics and rainfall infiltration across four vegetation types in subtropical Southwest China, revealing that primary evergreen broadleaf forests maintain higher soil moisture and slower infiltration rates, which is crucial for regional drought resistance.

Objective

• To investigate soil moisture dynamics and rainfall infiltration across four predominant vegetation types in subtropical Southwest China.
• To understand the mechanisms regulating soil water infiltration and retention across diverse vegetation types in subtropical regions.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Subtropical Southwest China (Ailao Mountains region), comparing primary evergreen broadleaf forest, secondary Populus forest, managed tea plantation, and natural grassland.
• Temporal Scale: Four years, from 2019 to 2022, with measurements taken at 1800-second intervals.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None explicitly mentioned; the study is observational.
• Data sources: In-situ measurements of volumetric soil moisture content at five depths (0.1 m, 0.2 m, 0.4 m, 0.6 m, 1.0 m). Data is available as "Soil Moisture Dataset of Typical Ecosystems in the Ailao Mountains (2019–2022)".

Main Results

• Distinct soil moisture dynamics were observed among the four vegetation types.
• During the rainy season, the tea plantation exhibited the highest soil moisture content, while the evergreen broadleaf forest maintained the highest moisture levels during the dry season.
• Grassland consistently displayed the lowest soil moisture throughout the year.
• Temporal variability in soil moisture was more pronounced in grassland and tea plantation compared to Populus and evergreen forests.
• The vertical distribution of soil moisture varied significantly among vegetation types.
• Cumulative infiltration was lower in the evergreen and Populus forests than in the grassland and tea plantations.
• Primary evergreen broadleaf forests maintained higher soil moisture levels and slower infiltration rates, highlighting their critical role in sustaining soil moisture and enhancing regional drought resistance.

Contributions

• Provides valuable insights into the hydrological functions of different vegetation types in subtropical ecosystems.
• Emphasizes the critical role of primary forests in sustaining soil moisture and enhancing regional drought resistance.
• Highlights the urgent need for enhanced conservation efforts to protect primary forests, especially given escalating climate change and drought risks.

Funding

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Yan2025Soil,
  author = {Yan, Qiao-Shun and Peng, Yi and Jiang, Xiaojin and Fu, Peng and Lu, Zhi-Yun and Hu, Xiaowen and Zhang, Yong‐Jiang and Zhang, Jiao‐Lin and Fan, Ze‐Xin},
  title = {Soil moisture dynamics and rainfall infiltration across vegetation types in subtropical ecosystems in Southwest China},
  journal = {CATENA},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.catena.2025.109693},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109693}
}