Deep soil depletion and edge compensation: Insights into optimized strategies for addressing water imbalance in arid-region plantations

IF 6.5 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

Agricultural Water Management Pub Date : 2025-09-13 DOI:10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109799

Xingting Liu , Weiwei Wang , Wantong Wang , Xuancheng Liu , Mengyang Li , ChangChun Shi , Fei Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In recent years, the contradiction between vegetation restoration and the sustainability of soil water resources in arid regions has become increasingly prominent. Numerous studies have provided evidence that changes in land use significantly impact soil moisture; however, they often overlook the interconnections between different ecological landscape units. This study focuses on the Pinus sylvestris. artificial forest in the Mu Us Sandy Land, analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of soil moisture profiles from 0 to 500 cm, and revealing the moisture dynamics and driving mechanisms within the forest and at the forest edge. The results indicate that the planting of P. sylvestris leads to a significant reduction in soil water storage (P < 0.05), with notable depletion of soil moisture observed in 25-year-old P. sylvestris stands. Although soil moisture partially recovers as the trees mature, deep soil moisture remains continuously deficient, reflecting a long-term imbalance between vegetation water consumption and replenishment. Additionally, internal water competition is induced within 25- to 35-year-old stands, manifested by the absorption of moisture from the 100–300 cm soil layer of grassland at the forest edge by lateral roots of P. sylvestris, with an extent reaching up to 11 m. In the soil moisture profile from within the forest to the edge (19 m distance), a significant positive correlation is observed between root biomass and soil moisture (P < 0.05), although this correlation gradually weakens with increasing distance from the forest edge. These findings suggest that the depletion of soil moisture within the forest encourages trees at the edge to extend their lateral roots to access additional water resources. Therefore, it is recommended that future forest management incorporate ecological nurturing measures centered on density regulation and spatial optimization. This study provides a scientific basis for promoting sustainable water resource management in P. sylvestris forests through thinning, and holds significant practical implications for vegetation restoration in arid regions.

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深层土壤枯竭和边缘补偿：解决干旱地区人工林水分失衡的优化策略

近年来，干旱区植被恢复与土壤水资源可持续性的矛盾日益突出。许多研究提供的证据表明，土地利用的变化显著影响土壤湿度；然而，它们往往忽视了不同生态景观单元之间的相互联系。本研究以西尔维斯特松为研究对象。以毛乌素沙地人工林为研究对象，分析了0 ~ 500 cm土壤水分剖面的空间分布特征，揭示了林内和林缘水分动态及其驱动机制。结果表明，种植小檗可显著降低土壤储水量（P <； 0.05），25年小檗林分土壤水分明显减少。随着树木的成熟，土壤水分得到了部分恢复，但深层土壤水分仍然持续不足，反映了植被耗水与补水之间的长期不平衡。此外，25 ~ 35年林龄的林分内部还存在水分竞争，表现为林缘草地100 ~ 300 cm土层水分被西林侧根吸收，吸收程度可达11 m。在林内至林缘（19 m）的土壤水分剖面中，根系生物量与土壤水分呈显著正相关（P <； 0.05），但随着距离林缘的增加，这种相关性逐渐减弱。这些发现表明，森林内土壤水分的枯竭促使边缘的树木伸展其侧根以获取额外的水资源。因此，建议未来森林经营应采取以密度调控和空间优化为核心的生态培育措施。本研究为推进森林间伐水资源可持续管理提供了科学依据，对干旱区植被恢复具有重要的现实意义。

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来源期刊

Agricultural Water Management 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

12.10

自引率

14.90%

发文量

648

审稿时长

4.9 months

期刊介绍： Agricultural Water Management publishes papers of international significance relating to the science, economics, and policy of agricultural water management. In all cases, manuscripts must address implications and provide insight regarding agricultural water management.