Effects of Textural Layering on Water Regimes in Sandy Soils in a Desert-Oasis Ecotone, Northwestern China

Textural layering of soil plays an important role in distributing and regulating resources for plants many semiarid arid landscapes. However, the spatial patterns textural potential effects on hydrology water regimes are poorly understood, especially sandy environments like desert-oasis ecotones northwestern China. This work aims to determine distribution layered soils, analyze different soil-textural configurations regimes, evaluate which factors affect infiltration retention characteristics such a ecotone. We measured content mineral composition 87 profiles distributed along three transects study area. Constant-head experiments were conducted at 9 with texture configurations. The results showed that soils patchily but extensively throughout area (with combined surface percentage about 84%). Soil ranged from 0.002 0.27 g/cm 3 during investigation period, significantly positively correlated thickness medium-textured (silt or silt loam) layer ( p < 0.001). occurrence increased field capacity wilting point decreased available water-holding profiles. Burial depth had no clear properties, tended to. In smaller rate cumulative infiltration, shallower depths wetting fronts detected, compared homogeneous sand burial layers obvious magnitude depended configuration. revealed may provide new insight into sustainable management rainfed vegetation China other regions similar around world.