Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of China
Soil macropores and hydraulic conductivity are important indexes used to describe soil hydrology. In the dry-hot valley region of Southwest China, with its dramatic seasonal dry–wet rhythm, soil properties and hydraulic conductivity can reflect unique dynamics as determined by the interaction betwee...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/17/3036 |
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| author | Yi Wang Jingru Ruan Yongkang Li Yaping Kong Longxi Cao Wei He |
| author_facet | Yi Wang Jingru Ruan Yongkang Li Yaping Kong Longxi Cao Wei He |
| author_sort | Yi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil macropores and hydraulic conductivity are important indexes used to describe soil hydrology. In the dry-hot valley region of Southwest China, with its dramatic seasonal dry–wet rhythm, soil properties and hydraulic conductivity can reflect unique dynamics as determined by the interaction between land use and the seasonal dry–wet cycle. In this study, the soil macropore characteristics and hydraulic conductivity of five land uses (traditional corn, plum orchard, pine forest, grassland, and abandoned cropland) in a dry–hot valley region were quantified using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and a mini disk infiltrometer in the rainy season (July) and dry season (November), respectively. The results showed that the soil macropore indexes (soil macroporosity, mean diameter of macropores, connectivity, hydraulic radius and compactness) in the rainy season were, on average, 1.26 times higher than those in the dry season. Correspondingly, the hydraulic conductivity of different land uses in the rainy season was significantly higher than those in the dry season (2.10 times higher, on average). Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the hydraulic conductivity was mainly determined by soil macropore parameters rather than by general soil properties, such as organic matter (OM) and bulk density (BD). The hydraulic conductivity for the five land uses followed the order of PF > GL > TC > PO > AC in both the rainy and the dry seasons. This ranking order reflects the protective effect of vegetation in reducing raindrop splash and soil crust formation processes. The above results can help guide soil water conservation and vegetation restoration in the dry-hot valley region of Southwest China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:10:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e968e29367174f59b5ebafaa4570b821 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:10:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-e968e29367174f59b5ebafaa4570b8212023-11-19T09:01:23ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-08-011517303610.3390/w15173036Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of ChinaYi Wang0Jingru Ruan1Yongkang Li2Yaping Kong3Longxi Cao4Wei He5Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest China, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, ChinaCollege of Geography and Resources, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, ChinaCollege of Geography and Resources, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, ChinaChina Academy of Transportation Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaCollege of Geography and Resources, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, ChinaSoil macropores and hydraulic conductivity are important indexes used to describe soil hydrology. In the dry-hot valley region of Southwest China, with its dramatic seasonal dry–wet rhythm, soil properties and hydraulic conductivity can reflect unique dynamics as determined by the interaction between land use and the seasonal dry–wet cycle. In this study, the soil macropore characteristics and hydraulic conductivity of five land uses (traditional corn, plum orchard, pine forest, grassland, and abandoned cropland) in a dry–hot valley region were quantified using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and a mini disk infiltrometer in the rainy season (July) and dry season (November), respectively. The results showed that the soil macropore indexes (soil macroporosity, mean diameter of macropores, connectivity, hydraulic radius and compactness) in the rainy season were, on average, 1.26 times higher than those in the dry season. Correspondingly, the hydraulic conductivity of different land uses in the rainy season was significantly higher than those in the dry season (2.10 times higher, on average). Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the hydraulic conductivity was mainly determined by soil macropore parameters rather than by general soil properties, such as organic matter (OM) and bulk density (BD). The hydraulic conductivity for the five land uses followed the order of PF > GL > TC > PO > AC in both the rainy and the dry seasons. This ranking order reflects the protective effect of vegetation in reducing raindrop splash and soil crust formation processes. The above results can help guide soil water conservation and vegetation restoration in the dry-hot valley region of Southwest China.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/17/3036dry–hot valley regionhydraulic conductivityimage analysisland usesoil pores |
| spellingShingle | Yi Wang Jingru Ruan Yongkang Li Yaping Kong Longxi Cao Wei He Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of China Water dry–hot valley region hydraulic conductivity image analysis land use soil pores |
| title | Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of China |
| title_full | Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of China |
| title_fullStr | Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of China |
| title_short | Soil Macropore and Hydraulic Conductivity Dynamics of Different Land Uses in the Dry–Hot Valley Region of China |
| title_sort | soil macropore and hydraulic conductivity dynamics of different land uses in the dry hot valley region of china |
| topic | dry–hot valley region hydraulic conductivity image analysis land use soil pores |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/17/3036 |
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