Characteristics and interactions of apple tree root system and soil water in deep profile of Loess Region
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DOI:10.7606/j.issn.1000-7601.2023.04.13
Key Words: root distribution  soil water  land use change  deep profile  Loess Region
Author NameAffiliation
LI Ting Ulanqab Radio and Television University, Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia 012000, China 
LI Bingbing College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China 
LI Zhi College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China 
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Abstract:
      It is necessary to explore the characteristics of root system and soil water in the deep profile and their interaction under different land use types for the sustainable development and utilization of deep soil water in the loess region. This study used farmland (F) as a control to analyze the characteristics of root and soil water in the 10 m deep profile of apple trees with seven ages (A5, A8, A11, A15, A18, A22, and A26). The results showed that root depth for a cumulative fraction (Y) of fine root length density (FRLD) at 0.50 and 0.95 (D50 and D95) of 10 m deep profile under F, apple tree <10 a and >10 a was 20 cm and 160 cm, 80 cm and 610 cm, 512 cm and 884 cm. The corresponding mean values of root distribution extinction coefficient (β) were 0.962, 0.995, and 0.998, respectively. The soil water content (SWC) and soil water storage (SWS) gradually decreased with the increase of apple tree ages in the 10 m deep profile, while soil water deficit degree (SWCD) and water consumption depth gradually increased. D50 showed a negative linear correlation with SWC/SWS at 0~10 m soil layers (r2=0.6), while it showed a positive linear correlation with SWCD (r2=0.3). FRLD and Y were suitable for characterizing soil moisture status under shallow\|rooted and deep\|rooted vegetation, respectively. The FRLD in the 0~3 m soil layer under F explained 70%~80% of the SWC and SWS variation, while the Y of apple trees ≥15 a in the 0~10 m soil layer only explained 30% of the SWCD variation. The results provided information for the formulation of irrigation strategies for apple trees and the parameterization of root water uptake simulations, especially in arid and semi\|arid regions with limited water resources and deep unsaturated zones.