The variation of soil water in the process of vegetation restoration on abandoned lands in Zhifanggou

Xiannangou

Xigou and Guoyangwan watersheds of the loess hilly and gully region was studied. The results show that soil water content below 60 cm depth gradually decreases with increasing time since land was left to regenerate. Results of the soil water content evaluation for different topographies suggest: the soil water content on north-facing slopes is higher than that on south-facing slopes; the soil water content at the lower slopes of hills is higher than that at upper slopes of hills; and soil water content decreases with the increasing slope gradient. The soil water content under different types of vegetation differs: soil water content under grassland is relatively high and that under woodland is relatively low. Results for soil water content for different vegetation restoration measures suggest soil water content under natural restoration is higher than that under manual restoration. In addition

it was found that the greater the biomass

the lower the soil water content.