Premium
Soil water infiltration of Subalpine Shrub Forest in Qilian Mountains, northwest of China
Author(s) -
Chang Zongqiang,
Ye Xiyan,
Zhang Jinghui
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.1002/agj2.20496
Subject(s) - infiltration (hvac) , shrub , soil water , water content , environmental science , soil science , hydrology (agriculture) , ecology , geology , geography , biology , geotechnical engineering , meteorology
Soil water infiltration is an inherent characteristic of soil, but its capability varies according to soil types. In this study, soil water infiltration of five subalpine shrub species, Salix gilashanica C. Wang & P.Y. Fu , Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir., Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb., Berberis diaphana Maxim., and Caragana angelica Maxim. ex Kom. from Xishui Forest Zone of Qilian Mountain was tested by the double‐rings method. Influences of shrub type on soil water infiltration were analyzed. Research results demonstrate that there are great differences in soil water storage capacity and infiltration performance among different shrubs. Soil water storage capacity and soil water infiltration of S. gilashanica are higher than those of other shrub types, whereas soil water storage capacity and soil water infiltration of dry C. jubata are the lowest. The initial soil water infiltration rate of different shrub types ranges between 3.8 and 53.93 mm min –1 and the steady infiltration rate is 0.95–24.12 mm min –1 . Generally, the order of steady infiltration rate is S. gilashanica > C. jubata > D. fruticosa > B. diaphana > C. tangutica . Kostiakov formula and Horton formula were found superior to Philip formula in terms of fitting accuracy in the process of soil water infiltration. Initial soil water infiltration rate and steady infiltration rate have significantly positive correlations with organic contents, natural moisture content, and porosity of soil, especially with non‐capillary porosity. Alternatively, initial soil water infiltration rate and steady infiltration rate showed significantly negative correlations with soil density.