Li et al. (2026) Seasonal differentiation and drivers of vertical soil moisture variation in farmland of the middle Heihe River

Identification

• Journal: Frontiers in Earth Science
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-29
• Authors: Wenye Li, Wenpeng Li, Yuejun Zheng, Haoming Wang, Xinlei He, Xusheng Wang, 文岩, Rongchang Zhao, Jiayin Lu
• DOI: 10.3389/feart.2026.1880109

Research Groups

• Department of Water Resources, China Institute of Geo-Environment Monitoring, Beijing, China
• School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China
• Water Cycle Field Station of The Heihe River Basin, China Geological Survey, Zhangye, China
• Scientific Research and Innovation Center, Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology Gansu Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development, Zhangye, China
• Gansu Geological Engineering Survey Institute Co., Ltd., ZhangYe, China
• Gansu Inland Arid Area Water Cycle and Water Balance Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, Zhangye, China
• Geological Society of China Technology Innovation Base for Water Cycle Monitoring and Water Balance Analysis in Inland Arid Areas, Zhangye, China
• Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
• College of Civil and Architectural Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China

Short Summary

This study investigates the seasonal differentiation and drivers of vertical soil moisture variation in farmland of the middle Heihe River. The results show that soil moisture is significantly greater variability in shallow soil than in deep soil, and distinct differences in moisture dynamics between different years.

Objective

• Investigate the driving factors of soil moisture during the growing and non-growing seasons.
• Characterize the seasonal differentiation patterns of soil moisture at different depths.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Middle reaches of the Heihe River basin, China.
• Temporal Scale: 2012 to 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Redundancy analysis (RDA), multiple linear regression, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA).
• Data sources: Meteorological element gradient observation system at the Daman superstation in the middle reaches of the Heihe River.

Main Results

• Soil moisture is significantly greater variability in shallow soil than in deep soil.
• Distinct differences in moisture dynamics between different years.
• RDA analysis indicates that during the growing season, soil moisture variation was mainly correlated with net radiation (Rn) and air temperature (Ta), whereas in the non-growing season it was dominated by soil temperature (Ts) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).
• Regression analysis shows that Rn has a greater impact on surface and deep soils than on the middle layers.
• Ts is one of the most significant factors during the non-growing season, exerting a positive impact on soil moisture at all depths.

Contributions

• This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the seasonal differentiation and drivers of vertical soil moisture variation in farmland of the middle Heihe River.
• The results can be used to optimize agricultural water resource management and improve drought early warning systems.

Funding

• Not specified.

Citation

@article{Li2026Seasonal,
  author = {Li, Wenye and Li, Wenpeng and Zheng, Yuejun and Wang, Haoming and He, Xinlei and Wang, Xusheng and 文岩 and Zhao, Rongchang and Lu, Jiayin},
  title = {Seasonal differentiation and drivers of vertical soil moisture variation in farmland of the middle Heihe River},
  journal = {Frontiers in Earth Science},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3389/feart.2026.1880109},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2026.1880109}
}