Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2507-2519 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Hydrological processes |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns has important implications for optimal soil and water management and effective field monitoring. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns over four plots of 105 m × 135 m in grid size with different grazing intensities in a semi-arid steppe in China. We also examined whether a time-stable location can be identied from causative factors (i.e. soil, vegetation, and topography). At each plot, surface soil moisture (0-6 cm) was measured about biweekly from 2004 to 2006 using 100 points in each grid. Possible controls of soil moisture, including soil texture, organic carbon, bulk density, vegetation coverage, and topographic indices, were determined at the same grid points. The results showed that the spatial patterns of soil moisture were considerably stable over the 3-y monitoring period. Soil moisture under wet conditions (averaged volumetric moisture contents >20%) was more stable than that under dry (Θ̄j,t < 10%) or moist (Θ̄j,t = 10-20%) conditions. The best representative point for the whole eld identied in each plot was accurate in representing the eld mean moisture over time (R2 ≥ 0·97; p< 0·0001). The degree of temporal persistence varied with grazing intensity, which was partly related to grazing-induced differences in soil and vegetation properties. The correlation analysis showed that soil properties, and to a lesser extent vegetation and topographic properties, were important in controlling the temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns in this relatively flat grassland. Response surface regression analysis was used to quantitatively identify representative monitoring locations apriori from available soil-plant parameters. This allows appropriate selection of monitoring locations and enhances efciency in managing soil and water resources in semi-arid environments.
Keywords
- Controlling factor, Grazing, Sampling strategy, Soil moisture, Time stability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Water Science and Technology
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In: Hydrological processes, Vol. 24, No. 18, 08.2010, p. 2507-2519.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Controls of surface soil moisture spatial patterns and their temporal stability in a semi-arid steppe
AU - Zhao, Y.
AU - Peth, S.
AU - Wang, X. Y.
AU - Lin, H.
AU - Horn, R.
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - Temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns has important implications for optimal soil and water management and effective field monitoring. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns over four plots of 105 m × 135 m in grid size with different grazing intensities in a semi-arid steppe in China. We also examined whether a time-stable location can be identied from causative factors (i.e. soil, vegetation, and topography). At each plot, surface soil moisture (0-6 cm) was measured about biweekly from 2004 to 2006 using 100 points in each grid. Possible controls of soil moisture, including soil texture, organic carbon, bulk density, vegetation coverage, and topographic indices, were determined at the same grid points. The results showed that the spatial patterns of soil moisture were considerably stable over the 3-y monitoring period. Soil moisture under wet conditions (averaged volumetric moisture contents >20%) was more stable than that under dry (Θ̄j,t < 10%) or moist (Θ̄j,t = 10-20%) conditions. The best representative point for the whole eld identied in each plot was accurate in representing the eld mean moisture over time (R2 ≥ 0·97; p< 0·0001). The degree of temporal persistence varied with grazing intensity, which was partly related to grazing-induced differences in soil and vegetation properties. The correlation analysis showed that soil properties, and to a lesser extent vegetation and topographic properties, were important in controlling the temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns in this relatively flat grassland. Response surface regression analysis was used to quantitatively identify representative monitoring locations apriori from available soil-plant parameters. This allows appropriate selection of monitoring locations and enhances efciency in managing soil and water resources in semi-arid environments.
AB - Temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns has important implications for optimal soil and water management and effective field monitoring. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns over four plots of 105 m × 135 m in grid size with different grazing intensities in a semi-arid steppe in China. We also examined whether a time-stable location can be identied from causative factors (i.e. soil, vegetation, and topography). At each plot, surface soil moisture (0-6 cm) was measured about biweekly from 2004 to 2006 using 100 points in each grid. Possible controls of soil moisture, including soil texture, organic carbon, bulk density, vegetation coverage, and topographic indices, were determined at the same grid points. The results showed that the spatial patterns of soil moisture were considerably stable over the 3-y monitoring period. Soil moisture under wet conditions (averaged volumetric moisture contents >20%) was more stable than that under dry (Θ̄j,t < 10%) or moist (Θ̄j,t = 10-20%) conditions. The best representative point for the whole eld identied in each plot was accurate in representing the eld mean moisture over time (R2 ≥ 0·97; p< 0·0001). The degree of temporal persistence varied with grazing intensity, which was partly related to grazing-induced differences in soil and vegetation properties. The correlation analysis showed that soil properties, and to a lesser extent vegetation and topographic properties, were important in controlling the temporal stability of soil moisture spatial patterns in this relatively flat grassland. Response surface regression analysis was used to quantitatively identify representative monitoring locations apriori from available soil-plant parameters. This allows appropriate selection of monitoring locations and enhances efciency in managing soil and water resources in semi-arid environments.
KW - Controlling factor
KW - Grazing
KW - Sampling strategy
KW - Soil moisture
KW - Time stability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955617898&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hyp.7665
DO - 10.1002/hyp.7665
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77955617898
VL - 24
SP - 2507
EP - 2519
JO - Hydrological processes
JF - Hydrological processes
SN - 0885-6087
IS - 18
ER -