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Mosaic desert pavement influences water infiltration and vegetation distribution on fluvial fan surfaces
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  • Dejin Wang,
  • Wenzhi Zhao,
  • zhou hong,
  • Weicheng Luo
Dejin Wang
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Wenzhi Zhao
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources
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zhou hong
Northwest Normal University
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Weicheng Luo
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources
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Abstract

Desert pavements are critical for maintaining ecological stability and promoting near-surface hydrological cycle in arid regions. However, few studies have reported the desert pavements on ecological on fluvial fans. Although desert pavement surfaces appear to be barren and flat, we found that the surfaces were featured by mosaic pattern of desert pavement (DP) and bare ground (BG). In this study, we investigated the effects of mosaic DP on water infiltration and vegetation distribution at six sites (i.e. one on the hillside and five in the sectors of fluvial fans) along a southwest belt transect on the fluvial fans in the Northern Linze County, in the middle of Hexi Corridor. The results showed that significant differences of Mosaic DP between hillside and sectors of fans were found in pavement thickness, thickness of vesicular horizon (Av thickness), particle composition and bulk density, rather than soil moisture content (SMC), gravel coverage and surface gravel size. The mosaic DP can inhibit water infiltration by pavement layer, where the sorptivity (S), initial infiltration rate (iint) and steady- state infiltration rate (isat) and infiltration time (T) averaged 1.30 cm/min-0.5, 5.03 cm/min, 0.23 cm/min, and 12.76 min respectively. If pavement layer was scalped, the S, iint and isat increased by 0.75 cm/min-0.5, 2.90 cm/min and 0.13 cm/min, respectively, and the T was shortened by 5.34 min. Water infiltration was mainly controlled by the pavement layer thickness (+), Av thickness (-), surface gravel coverage (-), and fine earth (+) and fine gravel (-) of pavement layer. Mosaic DP grew less shrubs than mosaic BG where distributed plenty of herbs. It can be concluded that desert pavements can keep vegetation stability by self-regulating rainfall. This study would deepen our understanding of the eco-hydrological cycle of pavement landscape in arid regions.
13 Jan 2021Submitted to Hydrological Processes
15 Jan 2021Submission Checks Completed
15 Jan 2021Assigned to Editor
15 Jan 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Mar 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
31 Mar 20211st Revision Received
01 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
01 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
01 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
08 Jun 20212nd Revision Received
18 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
18 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
18 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
01 Sep 20213rd Revision Received
01 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
01 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
01 Sep 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Sep 2021Published in Hydrological Processes volume 35 issue 9. 10.1002/hyp.14373