Low moisture capacity in sandy land leads to water scarcity and drought.
Researchers studied the water dynamics in sandy land in Yanchi County, Ningxia. They found that the soil had low moisture capacity and drought endurance. The main resistance to water distribution was from leaves to the atmosphere. Seasonal changes in soil moisture were due to rainfall, evaporation, and tree transpiration. Trees showed daily variations in leaf potential, with the lowest potential occurring early during drought stress. Leaf water potential was related to soil and atmosphere water potential.