The researchers studied the distribution of soil moisture, salinity, and organic matter in the Manas River watershed in China. They found that soil moisture levels varied across different layers of soil, with factors like landform and crop planting affecting the distribution. Salinity levels were higher in the east compared to the west, with heavily salinized soils in the middle due to reservoir leakage. Different types of soil salinization were identified, with sulfate salinized soil being most common near the surface. Organic matter content was highest in the south of the study area and decreased with depth. Overall, the spatial patterns of soil moisture and organic matter were similar, with high organic matter content correlating with high soil moisture levels.