The spatial distribution and movement of the spring soil moisture in the hinter land of Junggar Basin

Abstract

The exploitation of resources and an increase in civil engineering projects in the Junggar Basin has caused major environmental disturbance to the fragile desert eco-system. It is a serious problem that attracts global attention on how to restore and reconstruct the stable natural eco-system. Understanding soil moisture content and lateral water movement in arid areas, at a shallow depth, is of practical importance. On the one hand, lateral flow can be expected to reduce the groundwater recharge rate. On the other hand, it may result in a strong variability of water resources over short distances, thus affecting the distribution and composition of the vegetal cover. The eolian soil moisture condition is the primary factor that affects desert plant-cover in the hinter land of Junggar Basin, especially in spring (from March to May). With neutron probe, through field calibration, the soil moisture changes in different terrain parts, which are the crest, slope, the foot of the natural and disturbed dunes and the interdune land were measured. The data shows that the spatial distribution of the soil moisture in spring is closely related to the sun radiation, the depth of snow in winter, landscape position, the depth of soil, plant cover condition (cover-degree, plant species), and human impact. The data also provides scientific information and instruction for restoring and reconstructing the eco-system that has been damaged by engineering disturbance.