[Soil water characteristics in Picea crassifolia forestry lands in Qilian Mountains]

The study of soil water content and its main affecting factors in Picea crassifolia forestry lands in Qilian Mountains showed that the Picea crassifolia forestry lands were characterized by lower soil bulk weight and higher soil water infiltration rate, and the vertical distribution of soil water was apparently affected by precipitation. The soil bulk weight of shrub-Picea crassifolia forestry land, moss-Picea crassifolia forestry land and meadow land was 0.522, 0.641 and 0.874 g x cm(-3), initial water infiltration rate was 6.0, 21.0 and 2.5 mm x min(-1), and stable infiltration rate was 3.98, 11.2 and 0.5 mm x min(-1), respectively. The soil of moss-Picea crassifolia land in 100 cm depth could be partitioned into 4 layers, i.e., active layer (0 - 30 cm), regulation layer (30 - 60 cm), transmission layer (60 - 80 cm) and accumulation layer (below 80 cm), and the amount of stored water in each layer was 3.30, 3.17, 2.80 and 2.83 mm x cm(-1), respectively. The soil of shrub-Picea crassifolia land could be partitioned into 3 layers, i.e., stable layer (0 - 30 cm), active layer (30 - 60 cm) and transmission layer (below 60 cm), and the amount of stored water in each layer was 3.98, 3.65 and 3.48 mm x cm(-1), respectively. The seasonal variance of soil water content in Picea crassifolia forestry lands was strongly affected by precipitation. The water holding capacity of shrub-Picea crassifolia forestry land was higher and the water transmission capability was lower than that of Moss-Picea crassifolia forestry land.