Long-Term Response of Soil Moisture to Vegetation Changes in the Drylands of Northern China

Yan Wang, Yingjie Wu, Shuixia Zhao and Guoqing Wang ()
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Yan Wang: Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Yingjie Wu: Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Shuixia Zhao: Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
Guoqing Wang: The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: Soil moisture plays a critical role in the water and energy cycle within the soil–vegetation–atmosphere system and is a primary limiting factor in dryland ecosystems. Given the ongoing vegetation restoration in drylands, understanding the impact of vegetation changes on soil moisture is crucial for maintaining ecosystem stability and ensuring the sustainability of restoration efforts. This study combined long-term satellite data with eco-hydrological modeling to investigate the interannual and seasonal responses of soil moisture to vegetation changes in the Yinshanbeilu region during 1982–2018. The results indicated that vegetation in the region predominantly exhibited a greening trend, with 60.43% of the area experiencing significant increases in LAI. In areas with vegetation greening, soil moisture declined, with the effect being more pronounced at deeper soil profiles. Furthermore, the soil moisture trends shifted from wetting to drying, or, in more cases, from drying to intensified drying. The influence of vegetation greening on soil moisture exhibited seasonal variations, with more significant effects found in summer and autumn. This study highlights the complex responses of soil moisture to vegetation changes in grassland ecosystems in northern China’s drylands and provides a scientific guidance for ecological restoration and water management in these regions.

Keywords: vegetation changes; soil moisture; drylands; eco-hydrological modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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