Soil desiccation characteristics of alfalfa grasslands and soil water restoration effects in alfalfa\|grain crop rotations on the semi\|arid areas of the Loess Plateau
Abstract:Soil water consumption characteristics of deep soil profile on different growth age alfalfa grasslands and soil water restoration effects in alfalfa\|grain crop rotation fields were investigated and analyzed at Guyuan of semi\|arid areas of the Loess Plateau. The results showed as followings: (1) Average soil moisture in 0-1000cm soil profile on 4 kinds of 1-12 year\|old alfalfa grasslands was 6.6%, and soil water overuse amount was 702.8mm, and soil desiccating rate was 147.1mm per year, the soil desiccation intensity was strong desiccated. Thickness of desiccated soil layers was over 1000cm on the 5 year\|old alfalfa grassland, and it was over 1360cm on 8 year\|old alfalfa grassland. Suitable age for alfalfa grassland use was 7 year\|old. (2) Soil moisture in 0-1000cm soil profile on 5 kinds of 4-7 years and 25 years alfalfa\|grain crop rotation fields ranged from 6.74% to 11.95%, and soil water restoration amount was 210.6-887.3mm, and average soil water restoring rate was 80.8mm per year. Depth of restored soil layers over slight restoration intensity was over 1000cm on rotated grain crop fields for 6 years. Required years for soil moisture of desiccated soil layers restored to local soil stable moisture by alfalfa\|grain crop rotations was over 13 years. Suitable alfalfa\|grain crop rotation on the semi\|arid area was 7 years alfalfa and 13 years grain crops.