Plant Soil Environ., 2011, 57(9):409-417 | DOI: 10.17221/374/2010-PSE

Spatial variability and patterns of surface soil moisture in a field plot of karst area in southwest China

J.G. Zhang1,2, H.S. Chen2,3, Y.R. Su2,3, X.L. Kong4, W. Zhang2,3, Y. Shi1, H.B. Liang1, G.M. Shen1
1 Key Laboratory of Tobacco Quality Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, P.R. China
2 Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, P.R. China
3 Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, P.R. China
4 College of Life Science and Resource Environment, Yichun University, Yichun, P.R. China

A field plot (100 m × 50 m) was chosen in a karst depression area of Huanjiang County, Guangxi Province of southwest China, with the aim of characterizing the variability and patterns of upper 15 cm soil moisture. Soil moisture content was measured at 5 m intervals by gravimetric method during dry and rainy seasons in 2005. Results indicated that the surface soil moisture presented a strong spatial dependence at the sampling times in the field scale. The variability of soil moisture by CV values and sill decreased with the increasing mean field soil moisture content either in dry or rainy season. In the dry season, mean soil moisture had a little influence on the sill owing to the previous tillage. But, in the rainy season, a heavy rain event could decrease the variability of soil moisture. The anisotropy characteristics were found that the variance was lower in 0° direction than that in 90° direction based on the northeast axis, and the range had opposite trend except for the sampling on March 15, 2005. The mosaic patterns of soil moisture exhibited the variability and its anisotropy visually. The rainfall (mean soil moisture), topography and micro-relief (rock outcrops) had important influence on the variability of soil moisture. To better understand the variability of soil moisture in the karst depression area, more soil samples should be required in the dry season and in a field with more rock outcrops.

Keywords: geostatistics; anisotropy; mean soil moisture; rock outcrops; depression area; Karst

Published: September 30, 2011  Show citation

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Zhang JG, Chen HS, Su YR, Kong XL, Zhang W, Shi Y, et al.. Spatial variability and patterns of surface soil moisture in a field plot of karst area in southwest China. Plant Soil Environ. 2011;57(9):409-417. doi: 10.17221/374/2010-PSE.
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