Study reveals deep soil moisture depletion threatens North China farmland.
The researchers studied deep soil moisture in farmland in North China. They used special equipment to measure water content at a depth of 15.4 meters for a year. They found that soil moisture distribution is influenced by soil texture and decreases with depth. Precipitation and irrigation affect soil moisture, with dramatic changes in the root zone. Soil water storage increased overall but decreased during wheat seasons. Deep drainage was estimated to be around 65 mm in the soil profile.