Spatial-Temporal Simulations of Soil Moisture Content in a Large Basin of the Loess Plateau, China

Soil moisture is a crucial factor limiting the growth and survival of plants on Loess Plateau. Its level has severe impact plants’ development type distribution characteristics communities. This study area Jihe Basin in Plateau, China. Multiple linear regression models with different environmental variables (land use, topographic meteorological factors, etc.) were developed to simulate soil moisture’s spatial temporal changes by integrating field experiments, indoor analysis, GIS analysis. The model performances evaluated Basin, content measurements. result shows that positively correlated bulk density, monthly rainfall, wetness index, land use coefficient, slope aspect coefficient but negatively monthly-averaged temperature relative elevation coefficient. selected are all related can account for 75% variations content, remaining 25% other factors. Comparing simulated measured values at sampling points average error 0.09, indicating simulation high accuracy. significantly affected seasonal variation remarkable year. Seasonal determined rainfall air (determining evaporation) vegetation cycle. Therefore, proposed support developing water loss basin scale.