| The degree of spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture and its influential environmental factors were studied in Chaijiachuan watershed in the loess hilly areas in west Shanxi province. Soil moisture measurement were performed every half-month at five layers of soil profile (020, 2040, 4060, 6080, 80100 cm) from April to September, 2002. The results indicate that the soil moistare content on the sloping forest lands varies remarkably among different layers. As the increasing of soil depth, the mean moisture content decreases significantly, and the heterogeneity exhibits a decreasing trend. The temporal changes of the mean moisture and the heterogeneity are also obvious. The mean moisture increases after precipitation events and henceforth it declines as the soil dries down, whilst the heterogeneity exhibits an opposite pattern. The spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture are influenced by the multiple environmental attributes at slope scale. However, the relative roles of different environmental attributes vary with soil depths and with seasonal evolution. |