Importance of Temporal Scale in Assessing Changes in Soil-Water Storage in Apple Orchards on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Yan Mu,Yanping Wang,Di Wang

doi:10.3390/f11080793

Yan Mu, Yanping Wang + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f11080793

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Journal: Forests	Publication Date: Jul 23, 2020
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: North West Agriculture and Forestry University

Abstract

Knowledge of changes in soil-water storage (SWS) at multiple scales in apple orchards is important for formulating policies for the scientific management and sound planning of apple plantations on the Loess Plateau in China. In this study, we measured precipitation, partitioned evapotranspiration (ET) into canopy interception, transpiration, and soil evaporation, and calculated the changes in SWS using the water-balance method at multiple scales in two neighbouring apple orchards (8 and 18 years old) on the Loess Plateau from May to September in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. The results showed that ET was consistently lower for the 8- than the 18-year-old orchard in each year at the same scale (p < 0.05). The changes in SWS differed between the two orchards at the same scale, but the trends of change were similar in each year. The trend of the change in SWS at the same scale differed amongst the years for both orchards. The maximum supply of water from soil reservoirs for the two orchards also differed at different scales in each year and was higher at a daily cumulative scale than a monthly and annual scale in 2013, 2014, and 2016. The daily cumulative scale was thus a more suitable scale for representing the maximum contribution of the soil reservoir to supply water for the growth of the orchards during the study periods. Changes in SWS at a daily cumulative scale should be considered when assessing the effect of apple orchards on regional soil reservoirs on the Loess Plateau or in other water-limited regions.

Highlights

IntroductionThe Loess Plateau in China has a dry climate but is one of the best areas for the cultivation of apples due to its sufficient sunlight, low levels of environmental pollution and good ventilation [1]
The Loess Plateau in China has a dry climate but is one of the best areas for the cultivation of apples due to its sufficient sunlight, low levels of environmental pollution and good ventilation [1].Following the introduction of several policies to convert agricultural land to forests by the ChineseCentral Government, apple orchards covering large areas were established on the plateau [2]
ET in each year differed between the orchards and was consistently lower in the 8- than the 18-year-old orchard (p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

The Loess Plateau in China has a dry climate but is one of the best areas for the cultivation of apples due to its sufficient sunlight, low levels of environmental pollution and good ventilation [1]. Central Government, apple orchards covering large areas were established on the plateau [2]. Apples grown in this region are crisp and have clean surfaces, thick wax, bright colour, high storage resistance, and long shelf life, and have been accepted by native and foreign markets [3]. Precipitation (P) is the only source of water on the Loess Plateau for agricultural production [4,5], and most crops, including apples, are cultivated under rainfed conditions.

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