Estimation of Applicability of Soil Model for Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Plantations in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China

Zhen Ling,Zhen Ling,Zhen Ling,Tao Wang,Weiwei Zhu,Shixiang Gu,Shixiang Gu,Xinyou Liu,Li Gao,Zhengtao Shi,Guangxiong He

doi:10.3390/w14030295

Abstract

Soil water content (SWC) plays a vital role in the process of evapotranspiration (ET) in rubber plantations. To investigate the influence of the ET process on soil water balance in rubber plantations, we measured SWC at depths of 10, 20, 30, 40, 70, 100, 130 cm, measured the characteristics of root density distribution, and estimated the ET and deep percolation at a rubber plantation in Xishuangbanna using the Hydrus-1D model. Our results indicate the Hydrus-1D model can accurate simulate soil water dynamics in the 0–130 cm of rubber plantations with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency Coefficient (NSE) was 0.80–0.96, the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) was 0.05–0.02, and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R) was 0.82–0.97. Obviously, there were seasonal variation characteristics in soil moisture changes in the rubber plantations of Xishuangbanna. The soil water storage (SWS) dropped to its lowest value of 194 mm and reached its maximum value of 504 mm from the dry season to the rainy season. The simulated ET of the rubber plantation was 1166.1 mm. The large uptake and utilization of soil water by rubber plantations in the dry season affects or exacerbates seasonal drought in Xishuangbanna and leads to a shortage of regional water resources.

Highlights

The surface soil moisture level shows great temporal variability, especially during the intense ET period when the shallow soil moisture content remains at a low value and cannot provide enough effective water for plant published maps and institutional affiliations
The dynamics of soil water storage (SWS) in the 0–130 cm soil profile under a rubber plantation were accurately simulated by the Hydrus-1D model, and the effects of ET on a rubber plantation in Xishuangbanna were examined
Despite a significant period of defoliation and dormancy, the results we found when we modelled the uptake of soil water from the deep soil layers maintained rubber plantation growth and ET in the whole dry season and even at the beginning of rainy season

Summary

Introduction

There were seasonal variation characteristics in soil moisture changes in the rubber plantations of Xishuangbanna. The large uptake and utilization of soil water by rubber plantations in the dry season affects or exacerbates seasonal drought in Xishuangbanna and leads to a shortage of regional water resources. Soil water content (SWC) plays a vital role in the ET process of rubber plantation ecosystems [1,2,3]. It is a key factor in ensuring the survival and development of rubber plantations under the waterand heat-limited conditions in Xishuangbanna. Rubber plantations are extremely dependent on the shallow soil layer (≤30 cm) which uptakes about 70.3–81.6%.

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Discussion

Conclusion