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Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2019, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (3): 184-193.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2019.00184.

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Variation and relationship between soil moisture and environmental factors in the source region of the Yangtze River from 2005 to 2016

LingLing Song1,ZongJie Li2,Qing Tian1(),LieFu Wang4,Jing He1,RuiFeng Yuan3,Juan Gui3,BaiJuan Zhang3,YueMin Lv3   

  1. 1. College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Western China's Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth Environmental Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
    3. Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin Gansu/Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Research Center, Cold and Arid Region Environment and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
    4. Tuotuohe Meteorological Station, Geermu, Qinghai 816099, China
  • Received:2018-05-29 Accepted:2018-11-19 Online:2019-06-30 Published:2019-07-01
  • Contact: Qing Tian E-mail:tianqing622@126.com.

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Abstract:

This study analyzed soil moisture, soil erosion, and vegetation in the source region of the Yangtze River from 2005 to 2016. We found that soil moisture showed an increasing trend from 2005 to 2009 but decreased from 2009 to 2016. The surface soil moisture was severely affected by seasonal changes in the source region of the Yangtze River, especially in the soil from 0 to 40 cm. However, seasonal variation of soil moisture deeper than 40 cm was different from that in the upper layer. Soil moisture below 40 cm wasn't affected by the seasonal variation. Soil moisture from 0 to 50 cm and the average thickness of wind deposition showed a positive correlation in the study area from 2005 to 2016. For environmental protection in the source region of the Yangtze River, wind deposition played a role in water retention. Similarly, a positive correlation also existed between the average thickness of wind erosion and soil moisture. Deep-soil moisture was the key factor for vegetation structure on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results are also helpful for further understanding the variation of soil moisture on the Tibetan Plateau and providing a scientific basis for effectively protecting and controlling the ecological environment in the future.

Key words: soil moisture, soil erosion, vegetation, source region of the Yangtze River

Figure 1

Map showing the source region of the Yangtze River"

Figure 2

Annual variation of soil moisture in the study area"

Figure 3

Seasonal variation of soil moisture in the study area"

Figure 4

The relationship between soil moisture and the average thickness of wind deposition"

Figure 5

The relationship between soil moisture and the average thickness of wind erosion"

Figure 6

The relationship between soil moisture and forage grass height"

Figure 7

The relationship between soil moisture and vegetation coverage"

Figure 8

The relationship between soil moisture and the yield of forage grass"

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