[Water potential productivity and soil desiccation effect of alfalfa grasslands in different type arid areas of Loess Plateau: a simulation study].

Based on model validation and database establishment, the dynamic changes of water potential productivity, available water amount in 0-10 m soil layer, and moisture distribution in soil profiles on the alfalfa grasslands at Changwu of semi-humid area, Guyuan of semi-arid area, and Haiyuan of semi-arid prone drought area on Loess Plateau were simulated with WinEPIC model in a 20-30 years period. The results showed that the simulated water potential productivity of alfalfa grasslands at Changwu, Guyuan and Haiyuan fluctuated but declined with precipitation, and the mean value was 8.81, 3.83 and 2.48 t x hm(-2), respectively. The simulated monthly available water amount in 0-10 m soil layer also declined obviously but with fluctuation. On the 4-8 years old alfalfa grasslands, soil desiccation was quite serious, and soil available water amount fluctuated at low level with precipitation for a long period. With the increasing year of alfalfa growth, the thickness and distribution depth of desiccated soil layer increased gradually, and the duration for the desiccated soil depth over 10 m was 6 years at Changwu, 6 years at Guyuan, and 4 years at Haiyuan. After then, the soil layer beneath rainfall infiltration depth lasted permanently in a desiccated status. The reasonable duration for water sustainable use on alfalfa grasslands was 8-10 years on semi-humid area, 6-8 years on semi-arid years, and 4-6 years on semi-arid prone drought area.