Relationships between near-surface soil moisture and environmental features in the early stage of secondary succession after a landslide [崩塌地次級演替初期階段近地表水分與環境因子之關係]
Journal
Taiwan Journal of Forest Science
Journal Volume
36
Journal Issue
1
Pages
35-49
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Tu H.-T
Abstract
Landslides are common natural disturbances in Taiwan, and they usually change the hydrological conditions on hillslopes and influence subsequent vegetation development or ecosystem restoration. To explore the main environmental features controlling the near-surface soil water content after a landslide, this study investigated spatial distributions of topographic and edaphic features, vegetation, and near-surface soil water content. Investigations were conducted in a headwater catchment at the Fushan Research Center of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, northern Taiwan in the third year after a landslide had occurred in the headwater. The headwater was partitioned into 2 areas based on disturbance levels. A low-disturbed area was located in the upslope area, and a highly-disturbed area was located in the downslope area where springs were found. Compared to the low-disturbed area, the highly-disturbed area had lower soil porosity, lower saturated hydraulic conductivity, less remaining vegetation, and a lower mean near-surface soil water content. At locations near the springs, both soil porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity were low, but the near-surface soil water content was consistently high due to being supplied by the springs. As to correlations between spatial distributions of the near-surface soil water content and environmental features, the soil water content was significantly correlated with soil porosity for the entire site. In the low-disturbed area, soil water content was positively correlated with soil porosity and negatively correlated with saturated hydraulic conductivity. In the highly-disturbed area, no significant spatial correlations were found between soil water content and environmental features. The results indicated that connections between the near-surface soil water content and environmental features had not been reestablished in the highly-disturbed area in the initial stage of secondary succession. This could limit subsequent vegetative development after a landslide. ? 2021 Taiwan Forestry Research Institute. All rights reserved.
Subjects
Landslide
Secondary succession
Soil moisture
Soil physical property
Vegetation recovery
Catchments
Ecosystems
Hydraulic conductivity
Landslides
Porosity
Spatial distribution
Springs (components)
Vegetation
Ecosystem restoration
Environmental features
Headwater catchment
Hydrological condition
Saturated hydraulic conductivity
Spatial correlations
Vegetative development
Type
journal article