Soil desiccation in the Loess Plateau of China

Soil desiccation usually takes place below the depth of soil affected by rainfall infiltration (about 1–3 m) with relatively low water content, and is one kind of particular hydrological phenomena in semi-arid and semi-humid regions of the Loess Plateau in China. This desiccation results from the excessive depletion of deep soil water by artificial vegetation and long-term insufficient rainwater supply, which is difficult to disappear with land use change. Due to the influence of global warming during 1950–2000, large-scale vegetation rehabilitation aggravated water scarcity and led to soil desiccation in the deep soil layer in the Loess Plateau. From southeast to northwest, soil desiccation becomes more intensive with lower water content and bigger range in depth due to drier climate and lower water holding capacity. The range of soil desiccation has a close relationship with root distribution of plant, and its intensity varies with the types and ages of vegetation. The climate drought, soil properties and soil water cycle characteristics might be the precondition for the occurrence of soil desiccation, and artificial vegetation with improper type and exorbitant productivity could have accelerated this process in range and intensity. Soil desiccation has obviously negative effects on water cycle in soils, greatly reduces the anti-drought capacity of plants, and heavily influences the growth and natural succession of vegetation. In order to reduce the range, intensity, and negative effects of soil desiccation, proper types of vegetation should be selected according to rainfall and soil water conditions, and the control of vegetation density and productivity should be considered together with soil-water conservation measures.