Soil moisture patterns reveal impact of land use on water availability.
Soil moisture patterns were studied in a small area on the Loess Plateau. Different types of land had varying levels of moisture, with farmland having the most and forestland the least. Soil moisture was mostly affected by elevation, with higher areas having less moisture. Land use types had a bigger impact on soil moisture patterns than the shape of the land. Overall, the study shows that land use and elevation play important roles in how soil moisture varies in this region.