Experiment study on temporal stability of soil moisture content in ecological slopes under different vegetation covers

Abstract Temporal stability of soil moisture distribution is crucial to revealing the hydrological process of slope, but rarely accounted for during ecological restoration for engineering slopes. In this study, the effects of ecological restoration with different vegetations on soil moisture distribution were assessed by introducing temporal stability analysis. First, the ecological model slopes with grass and shrub covers were constructed to explore soil moisture distribution at the depth of 0 ∼ 100 cm. Then the spatial variability and correlation of soil moisture in ecological slope were analyzed. The similarity of the spatial distribution patterns among different periods were explored by temporal stability indices. Finally, the representative locations of soil moisture for each ecological slope were obtained and discussed. The results showed that soil moisture distribution was largely influenced by vegetation and rainfall. The similarity of spatial distribution patterns in ecological slopes with different vegetations differed from each other. Due to the difference in hydrological effects. The spatial distribution of soil moisture in slope was less similar in time under Cynodon dactylon cover, while it was better under Multiflora magnolia. Based on relative difference and time stability index, most of best representative locations were distributed at the top of the slope, followed by the middle of the slope. The study provides a theoretical basis for the rational monitoring point design of soil moisture content and a guide for the ecological restoration of engineering slopes.