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Spatial Distribution and Variation Characteristics of Saturated Hydrologic Conductivity on the Chinese Loess Plateau

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Abstract

The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) plays a vital role as an ecological barrier in maintaining the hydrological and climatic conditions of the Yellow River Basin, preventing desertification, and preserving biodiversity. Conducting a systematic analysis and assessment of the saturated hydrological conductivity (Ksat) on the Loess Plateau is crucial for modeling and simulating processes like surface runoff and solute migration. However, due to the uncertainty in detecting the saturated hydraulic conductivity, there are very few regional spatial analyses of the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the CLP. The research results show that the Campbell model is more suitable for the CLP than others. Spatially, Ksat gradually decreases from northwest to southeast. The Ksat in the surface layer (0 cm) was significantly larger than that at the lower soil depths, and the Ksat variability of each soil layer was moderate. Moran;s I decreased as the lag distance increased; this indicated a positive spatial correlation between Ksat and the correlation gradually decreasing with distance. The scattered points are mainly located in the first quadrant, so the local spatial auto-correlation characteristics of the Ksat in this area are clustered with high values. The Ksat for different land cover on the CLP increases in the order grassland > forest land > agricultural land and increases with elevation. This study improves our understanding of land resources and ecological environment management in the CLP.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, project no. 52109064.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi’an University of Technology, 710048, Xi’an, China

    Y. Yang, H. K. Yan, W. H. Tao & L. J. Su

  2. Anhui Agricultural University, School of Horticulture, 230036, Hefei, China

    Y. Yang

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Correspondence to W. H. Tao.

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Supplementary Information

11475_2024_2112_MOESM1_ESM.docx

Supporting information includes Table S1, and Figs. S1 and S2.

Table S1. Validation data sources.

Fig. S1. Land cover distribution map of the Loess Plateau.

Fig. S2. Surface saturated hydraulic conductivity for different land cover.

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Yang, Y., Yan, H.K., Tao, W.H. et al. Spatial Distribution and Variation Characteristics of Saturated Hydrologic Conductivity on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Eurasian Soil Sc. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229323603475

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