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Water
Volume 17
Issue 12
10.3390/w17121720
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Soil Infiltration Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Three Typical Forest Types in Southern Subtropical China

by
Yanrui Guo
1,
Chongshan Wan
2,
Shi Qi
1,*,
Shuangshuang Ma
3,
Lin Zhang
1,
Gong Cheng
2,
Changjiang Fan
1,
Xiangcheng Zheng
2 and
Tianheng Zhao
1
1
College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
2
Anji County Water Resources Bureau, Huzhou 313000, China
3
Zhejiang Anji Nong Hi-Tech Group, Huzhou 313000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2025, 17(12), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121720
Submission received: 17 April 2025 / Revised: 14 May 2025 / Accepted: 4 June 2025 / Published: 6 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Plant roots and soil properties play crucial roles in regulating soil hydrological processes, particularly in determining soil water infiltration capacity. However, the infiltration patterns and underlying mechanisms across different forest types in subtropical regions remain poorly understood. In this study, we measured the infiltration characteristics of three typical stands (pure Phyllostachys edulis forest, mixed Phyllostachys edulis-Cunninghamia lanceolata forest, and pure Cunninghamia lanceolata forest) using a double-ring infiltrometer. Stepwise multiple regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed to analyze the effects of root traits and soil physicochemical properties on soil infiltration capacity. The results revealed the following: (1) The initial infiltration rate (IIR), stable infiltration rate (SIR), and average infiltration rate (AIR) followed the order pure Phyllostachys edulis stand > mixed stand > pure Cunninghamia lanceolata stand. (2) Compared to the pure Cunninghamia lanceolata stand, the IIR, SIR, and AIR in the pure Phyllostachys edulis stand increased by 6.66%, 35.63%, and 28.51%, respectively, while those in the mixed stand increased by 28.79%, 28.82%, and 33.51%. (3) Fine root biomass, root length density, non-capillary porosity, and soil bulk density were identified as key factors influencing soil infiltration capacity. (4) Root biomass and root length density affected infiltration capacity through both direct pathways and indirect pathways mediated by alterations in non-capillary porosity and soil bulk density. These findings provide theoretical insights into soil responses to forest types and inform sustainable water–soil management practices in Phyllostachys edulis plantations.
Keywords: forest types; soil water infiltration; root traits; soil physicochemical properties; influencing factors forest types; soil water infiltration; root traits; soil physicochemical properties; influencing factors

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MDPI and ACS Style

Guo, Y.; Wan, C.; Qi, S.; Ma, S.; Zhang, L.; Cheng, G.; Fan, C.; Zheng, X.; Zhao, T. Soil Infiltration Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Three Typical Forest Types in Southern Subtropical China. Water 2025, 17, 1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121720

AMA Style

Guo Y, Wan C, Qi S, Ma S, Zhang L, Cheng G, Fan C, Zheng X, Zhao T. Soil Infiltration Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Three Typical Forest Types in Southern Subtropical China. Water. 2025; 17(12):1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121720

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guo, Yanrui, Chongshan Wan, Shi Qi, Shuangshuang Ma, Lin Zhang, Gong Cheng, Changjiang Fan, Xiangcheng Zheng, and Tianheng Zhao. 2025. "Soil Infiltration Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Three Typical Forest Types in Southern Subtropical China" Water 17, no. 12: 1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121720

APA Style

Guo, Y., Wan, C., Qi, S., Ma, S., Zhang, L., Cheng, G., Fan, C., Zheng, X., & Zhao, T. (2025). Soil Infiltration Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Three Typical Forest Types in Southern Subtropical China. Water, 17(12), 1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121720

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