Soil moisture dynamics and water balance of Caragana microphylla and Caragana korshinskii shrubs in Horqin Sandy Land, China

摘要

Based on the soil water balance theory, soil water dynamics and evapotranspiration (ET) of artificial sand-fixing Caragana microphylla and Caragana korshinskii shrubs with three different densities were researched in Horqin sandy land during the growing season. Results showed that mean soil water content of three shrub densities changed with time, different density caused spatial changes of soil water content in the deep soil horizon, but brought little influence on soil water temporal trends. The annual ET/P ratio varied between 83.21% and 99.6% for three shrub densities and the ET was not continually increased along with increase in shrub density. Based on the comprehensive analysis of soil water content, ET, and plant coverage for three shrub densities, the optimum density of C. microphylla and C. korshinskii shrubs (20 years old) in the study area could be about 1000 trees/ha. The findings were helpful for vegetation restoration in Horqin sandy land of China.