Study on the Influence of Water Storage Capacity of Aeolian Sandy Soil by Arsenic Sandstone: a Case Study in Mu Us Sandy Land in China

Abstract

To analyze how the arsenic sandstone influence the water storage capacity of Aeolian sandy soil, experimental plots with different ratios of arsenic sandstone and Aeolian sandy soil were set in Mu Us sandy land in China, with spring maize planted one season per year, and the soil water of the depth 0-120 cm was monitored constantly during 2013-2015. The results conducted that, moderate arsenic sandstone could improve the water storage capacity of sandy soil from 100 mm of 2013 to over 200 mm of 2015, promoting the soil water to none deficiency state, strengthen the water storage capacity of soil, which was beneficial for the crops growth. Water storage capacity of soil layer below 40 cm was promoted most obviously, and the layers of 0-40 cm and 80-120 cm turned into more stable layers for water storage, which was helpful for the crop growth. Mixing the arsenic sandstone and Aeolian sandy soil with ratio 1:1, 1:2 and 1:5, with the addition of arsenic sandstone, the water storage capacity of the soil was enhanced, the soil water deficit degree decreased, the water storage variable coefficient increased.