Spatial patterns of surface soil moisture and hydro-physical properties in Lijiang River watershed

Spatial heterogeneity is a basic characteristic of soil moisture and hydro-physical properties. We applied geostatistical approach to assess the spatial patterns of soil moisture and hydro-physical properties to identify the distribution and variability of surface soil (0-10 cm) moisture, bulk density, and maximum and minimum water capacity and their relationships with land use changes. The surface soil moisture, soil bulk density, and maximum and minimum water capacity displayed a strong spatial autocorrelation (spatial autocorrelation coefficient >0.87). These parameters showed similar spatial distribution patterns, changing gradually from the upperstream to middle and downstream watershed. Land use changes had a significant impact on the quantities and horizontal distribution patterns of surface soil moisture and hydro-physical properties. With respect to temporal factors, land use change and random distribution of sampling effects, the spatial autocorrelation of surface soil moisture was controlled more by random factors than autocorrelation factors. This resulted in its spatial autocorrelation to be less than other surface soil hydro-physical properties. This information would be useful in spatio-temporal soil moisture modeling and prediction and vegetation rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems in Lijiang River watershed.