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JOURNAL OF DESERT RESEARCH ›› 2017, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6): 1189-1195.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2017.00083

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A Review of Researches on Preferential Flow in Desert-oasis Region

Zhang Yongyong1, Fu Li2, Zhao Wenzhi1, Yan Jialiang3   

  1. 1. Linze Inland River Basin Research Station/Key Laboratory of Inland River Basin Ecohydrology, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    2. College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    3. School of Geography Science, Taiyuan Normal University, Jinzhog 030619, Shanxi, China
  • Received:2017-07-14 Revised:2017-09-08 Online:2017-11-20 Published:2017-11-20

Abstract: Soil macropores are formed under the joint effect of abiotic factors (wetting and drying alternation, freezing and thawing processes, and soil properties, etc.) and biotic factors (soil fauna burrows, plant root channels) in desert-oasis region. As they may act as pathways for preferential flow, water and solute migrate rapidly along preferential pathways to shallow groundwater, which enhance the risks of water and nutrient loss. The presence of soil macropores also enhances soil ventilation, promotes nutrient cycling, and improves soil fertility. Preferential flow occurrence reduces surface runoff and its erosion, promotes water infiltration, and affects vegetation restoration and groundwater recharge. This paper analyzes the generated causes of preferential flow and its effect on pedologic and hydrological processes in desert-oasis ecosystems. Combined with the current research progress, the research emphases in the future are put forward as follows: (1) more efforts should be dedicated to conducting in situ field study of soil macropore networks and its effect on preferential flow;(2)Field experiments are conducted to analyze preferential flow movement in different landscapes and to reveal the interaction mechanism of preferential flow and vegetation;(3)the model is developed to simulate the movement of preferential flow in desert-oasis region.

Key words: desert-oasis region, preferential flow, soil macropores, soil water movement

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