Abstract
Different types of vegetation occupy different geomorphology and water gradient environments in the Sanjiang Plain, indicating that the soil moisture dynamics and water balance patterns of the different vegetation communities might differ from each other. In this paper, a lowland system, perpendicular to the Nongjiang River in the Honghe National Nature Reserve (HNNR), was selected as the study area. The area was occupied by the non-wetland plant forest and the typical wetland plant meadow. The Microsoft Windows-based finite element analysis software package for simulating water, heat, and solute transport in variably saturated porous media (HYDRUS), which can quantitatively simulate water, heat, and/or solute movement in variably-saturated porous media, was used to simulate soil moisture dynamics in the root zone (20–40 cm) of those two plant communities during the growing season in 2005. The simulation results for soil moisture were in a good agreement with measured data, with the coefficient of determination (R 2) of 0.44–0.69 and root mean square error (RMSE) ranging between 0.0291 cm3/cm3 and 0.0457 cm3/cm3, and index of agreement (d) being from 0.612 to 0.968. During the study period, the volumetric soil moisture content of meadow increased with the depth and its coefficient of variation decreased with the depth (from 20 cm to 40 cm), while under the forest the soil moisture content at different depths varied irregularly. The calculated result of water budget showed that the water budget deficit of the meadow was higher than that of the forest, suggesting that the meadow is more likely to suffer from water stress than the forest. The quantitative simulation by HYDRUS in this study did not take surface runoff and plant growth processes into account. Improved root water uptake and surface runoff models will be needed for higher accuracy in further researches.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abrahamsen P, Hansen S, 2000. Daisy: An open soil-cropatmosphere system model. Environmental Modelling and Software, 15(3): 313–330. doi: 10.1016/S1364-8152(00)00003-7
Arbat G, Puig-Bargues J, Barragan J et al., 2008. Monitoring soil water status for micro-irrigation management versus modeling approach. Biosystems Engineering, 100(2): 286–296. doi: 1016/j.biosystemseng.2008.02.008
Bah A R, Kravchuk O, Kirchhof G, 2009. Sensitivity of drainage to rainfall, vegetation and soil characteristics. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 68(1): 1–8. doi: 1016/j.compag.2009.03.005
Baier W, Robertson G W, 1996. Soil moisture of conception and evolution of VSMB. Soil Science, 76(3): 251–261. doi: 10.4141/cjss96-032
Belmans C, Wesseling J G, Feddes R A, 1983. Simulation model of the water balance of a cropped soil: SWATRE. Journal of Hydrology, 63(4): 271–286. doi: 10.1016/0022-1694(83)90045-8
Boswell J S, Olyphant G A, 2007. Modeling the hydrologic response of groundwater dominated wetland to transient boundary conditions: Implications for wetland restoration. Journal of Hydrology, 332(3–4): 467–476. doi: 1016/j.jhydrol.2006.08.004
Chai Jiufeng, Li Hong, Wang Yulin, 1998. Characteristic of Calamagrostis augustifolia transpiration. Heilongjiang Journal of Animal Science and Technolog, (1): 20–22. (in Chinese)
Chai Wen, Wang Genxu, Li Yuanshou et al., 2008. Response of soil moisture under different vegetation coverage to precipitation in the headwaters of the Yangtze River. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 30(2): 329–337. (in Chinese)
Chen Qisheng, Qi Longxi, 1996. The numerical simulation of water-salt movement in soil with vegetation. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 33(1): 38–46. (in Chinese)
Dane J H, Mathis F H, 1981. An adaptive finite difference scheme for the one dimensional water flow equation. Soil Science, 45: 1048–1054. doi: 10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500060008x
Elmaayar M, Chen J M, 2006. Spatial scaling of evapotranspiration as affected by heterogeneities in vegetation topography, and soil texture. Remote Sensing of Enironment, 102(1–2): 33–51. doi: 1016/j.rse.2006.01.017
Feddes R A, Kowalik P J, Zaradny H, 1978. Simulation of Field Water Use and Crop Yield. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Gong H L, Zhang J, Zhou D M et al., 2010. Hydroinformatics and ecohydrology tools for ecologically sustainable development in northern China. International Association of Hydrological Sciences Publication, 338: 129–136.
Gong Huili, Zhou Demin, Zhang Mingxiang, 2009. Research progress and trends valuation of hydro-ecological model based on the eco-hydrology response. Progress in Natural Science, 19(9): 889–895. (in Chinese)
Guo Ruiping, Mo Xingguo, 2007. Differences of evapotranspiration on forest, grassland and farmland. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 18(8): 1751–1757. (in Chinese)
Hao Fanghua, Ou Yangwei, Yue Yong et al., 2008. Analysis of water cycle characteristics and soil water movement in the agricultural irrigation area in Inner Mongolia. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 28(5): 825–831. (in Chinese)
Huang Yilong, Fu Bojie, Chen Liding, 2003. Advances in ecohydrological process research. Acta Ecological Sinica, 23(3): 580–587. (in Chinese)
Jiang Ming, Wu Haitao, Lu Xianguo et al., 2009. Theory, mode and practice for the design of wetland ecological corridor: A case of Nongjiang River wetland ecological corridor, the Sanjiang Plain. Wetland Science, 7(2): 99–105. (in Chinese)
Kandelous M M, Šimůnek Jirí, 2010. Numerical simulations of water movement in a subsurface drip irrigation system under field and laboratory conditions using HYDRUS-2D. Agricultural Water Management, 97(7): 1070–1076. doi: 1016/j.agwat.2010.02.012
Kuchment L S, Demidow V N, 2006. Modeling of influence of hydrological processes on the carbon cycle of a forest ecosystem. Environmental Modeling and Software, 21(1): 111–114. doi: 1016/j.envsoft.2005.01.002
Legates D R, McCabe Jr G J, 1999. Evaluating the use of ‘goodness-of fit’ measures in hydrologic and hydroclimatic model validation. Water Resource Research, 35(1): 233–241. doi: 1029/1998WR900018
Li Hong, Huang Guoqiang, Li Xingang, 2004. HYDRUS-2D modeling of water contents in soils under climatic conditions. Journal of Argo-environment Science, 23(6): 1232–1234. (in Chinese).
Li Hongyan, Liang Bing, Su Ronghua, 2002. A mixed finite element method of simulating water and heat transfer in soil. Irrigation and Drainage, 21(1): 49–52. (in Chinese)
Li Yi, Wang Quanjiu, Wang Wenyan et al., 2007. Mathematical simulation of soil water movement under infiltration, redistribution and evaporation. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 26(1): 5–8. (in Chinese)
Liu Hongwei, Yu Zhongbo, Cui Guangbo, 2009. Pattern of soil moisture responding to precipitation in humid area. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 40(7): 822–829. (in Chinese)
Lu Rukun, 1999. Soil Agrochemistry Analysis. Beijing: China Agricultural Science and Technology Press, 282. (in Chinese)
Mubarak I, Mailhol J C, Angulo-Jaramillo R et al., 2009. Effect of temporal variability in soil hydraulic properties on simulated water transfer under high-frequency drip irrigation. Agricultural Water Management, 96(11): 1547–1559. doi: 1016/j.agwat.2009.06.011
Naumburg E, Mata-gonzalez R, Hunter R G et al., 2005. Phreatophytic vegetation and groundwater fluctuations: A review of current research and application of ecosystem response modeling with anemphasis on great basin vegetation. Environmental Management, 35(6): 726–740. doi: 10.1007/s00267-004-0194-7
Ndiaye B, Molénat J, Hallaire V et al., 2007. Effects of agricultural practices on hydraulic properties and water movement in soils in Brittany (France). Soil & Tillage Research, 93(2): 251–263. doi: 1016/j.still.2006.04.005
Ranatunga K, Nation E R, Barratt D G, 2008. Review of soil water models and their applications in Australia. Environmental Modelling and Software, 23(9): 1182–1206. doi: 1016/j.envsoft.2008.02.003
Schlegel P, Huwe B, Teixeira W G, 2004. Modelling species and spacing effects on root zone water dynamics using Hydrus-2D in an Amazonian agroforestry system. Agroforestry Systems, 60(3): 277–289. doi: 10.1023/B:AGFO.0000024422.96670.63
Schot P P, Wassen M J, 1993. Calcium concentrations in wetland groundwater in relation to water sources and soil conditions in the recharge area. Journal of Hydrology, 141(1–4): 197–217. doi: 10.1016/0022-1694(93)90050-J
Shang Songhao, 2004. Advances in soil moisture simulation and forecasting models. Journal of Shenyang Agricultural University, 35(5–6): 455–458. (in Chinese)
Shang Songhao, Mao Xiaomin, Lei Zhidong et al., 2009. Soil Water Dynamic Simulation Model and Its Application. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
Šimůnek J, van Genuchten M Th, Šejna M, 2006. The HYDRUS software package for simulating two- and three-dimensional movement of water, heat, and multiple solutes in variablysaturated media. Technical Manual, PC Progress, Prague, Czech Republic.
Šimůnek J, van Genuchten M Th, Šejna M, 2008. Development and applications of the HYDRUS and STANMOD software packages and related codes. Vadose Zone Journal, 7(2): 587–600. doi: 2136/vzj2007.0077
Skaggs T H, Trout T J, Simunek J et al., 2004. Comparison of HYDRUS-2D simulations of drip irrigation with experimental observations. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 130(4): 304–310. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437 (2004)130: 4(304)
Slavich P G, Hatton T J, Dawes W R, 1998. The canopy growth and transpiration model and waves: Technical, description and evaluation. CSIRO Land and Water, Technical Report 3/98.
Thompson J R, Sorenson H, Gavin H et al., 2004. Application of the coupled MIKE SHE/MIKE11 modelling system to a lowland wet grassland in southeast England. Journal of Hydrology, 293(1–4): 15l–179. doi: 1016/j.jhydrol.2004.01.017
Wang Anzhi, Pei Tiefan, 2002. Determination and calculation of evapotranspiration of board-leaved Korean pine forest on Changbai Mountain. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 13(12): 1547–1550. (in Chinese)
Wang Jinping, 1989. A numerical model of layered soils moisture equation under the condition of evaporation. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, (5): 49–54. (in Chinese).
Willmott C J, 1982. Some comments on the evaluation of model performance. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 63(11): 1309–1369. doi: 10.1175/1520-0477(1982)063<1309: SCOTEO>2.0.CO;2
Xie Zhenghui, Zeng Qingcun, Dai Yongjiu et al., 1998. An application of the mass-lumped finite element method to an unsaturated soil water flow problem. Climatic and Environmental Research, 3(1): 73–81. (in Chinese)
Yan Junhua, Zhou Guoyi, Huang Zhongliang, 2001. Evapotranspiration of the monsoon evergreen board-leaf forest in Dinghushan, Guangdong Province. Scientia Slivae Sinicae, 37(1): 37–45. (in Chinese).
Yang Jisong, Yu Junbao, Liu Jingshuang et al., 2004. N2O and CH4 fluxes in an forest in wetland, Sanjiang Plain. Ecology and Environment, 13(4): 476–479. (in Chinese)
Zhou D M, Gong H L, Wang Y Y et al., 2009. Driving forces for the marsh wetland degradation in the Honghe National Nature Reserve in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. Environmental Modeling & Assessment, 14(1): 101–111. doi: 10.1007/s10666-007-9135-1
Zhou D M, Gong H L, Liu Z L, 2008. Integrated wetland ecologic assessment of environmental condition in water catchments: Linking hydroecological modelling and Geoinformation techniques. Ecological Modeling, 214(2–4): 411–420. doi: 1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.03.014
Zhu Baoguang, Li Xiaomin, Jiang Ming et al., 2009. Bird diversity in Nongjiang River wetland ecological corridor and Its currounding in the Sanjiang Plain in Spring. Wetland Science, 7(3): 191–196. (in Chinese)
Zuo Haijun, Zhang Qi, Xu Ligang et al., 2009. Numerical investigation on response of soil water percolation to rainfall condition. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 23(1): 32–40. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40871241, 41001050), Direction Project of Chinese Academy of Science (KZCX2-YW-Q06-03)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, S., Zhou, D., Luan, Z. et al. Quantitative simulation on soil moisture contents of two typical vegetation communities in Sanjiang Plain, China. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 21, 723–733 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-011-0507-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-011-0507-8