Dried earth layers of artificial forestland in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province
陕西黄土高原人工林土壤干层及形成原因

By determining the earth moisture content of artificial forestland between 0 and 6 m deep in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi province, the vertical change of moisture content, distribution and formation causes of a dried earth layer are researched. The results show that the average moisture content is 9.3%–9.5% between 2 and 4 m under artificial forest of over 10 year’s growth in Guanzhong Plain, and chronic weak dried earth layers are developed which show that the dried earth layers are distributed extensively on the Loess Plateau. The southern boundary of the dried earth layer has reached the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains. When precipitation reaches 600 mm, there are weak dried earth layers between 2 and 4 m under artificial forest of more than 10 years old. When the precipitation is between 400 and 500 mm, there are moderate dried earth layers. When precipitation is above 800 mm, there are no dried earth layers. There are no dried earth layers under meadow land, corn land and less than 5 years old of artificial forestland in central and southern parts of the Loess Plateau. The development of dried earth layers under cypress forest is weaker than broad-leaved forest. Under the same climatic conditions, the development of dried earth layers under the loess tableland is nearly at the same level as the 2nd and 3rd river terrace. Dried earth layers developed in membrane water zone, and the buried depth is small and motion velocity is slow in the Loess Plateau, which is the direct water factor of the formation of the dried earth layer, while differences of tree age and tree species are the plant factors that consumed much moisture. From the depth of the gravity water and the membrane water in Guanzhong Plain, it is clear that the formation cause of dried earth layers is mainly due to natural factors. The dried layers generally develop in middle-aged artificial forestland that consumed too much moisture, which is the general character of earth moisture in subhumid and semiarid zones. The appearance of dried layers doesn’t show that the forest doesn’t develop in this area; this is depended on their development intensity. Artificial forest of Chinese poplar, locust tree and Chinese scholartree consuming less water can be planted in the areas where dried earth layer developed weakly, but can not be planted in the areas where dried earth layer developed intensely. Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40672108; Project of State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, CAS, No.SKLLQG0606 Author: Zhao Jingbo (1953–), Ph.D. and Professor, specialized in physical geography.