Temporal evolution of soil drought stress and its relationship with climate change for tea plantations in the subtropical–warm temperate climate transition zone of China

Zhongdian Zhang; Miao Cai; Songzhu Ye; Tonghui Liu; Mingbin Huang; Wei Zhang; Shuangfeng Jiang; Chong Yao; Junhui Yan; Jiqiang Niu

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109695

Agricultural Water Management (Sep 2025)

Temporal evolution of soil drought stress and its relationship with climate change for tea plantations in the subtropical–warm temperate climate transition zone of China

Zhongdian Zhang,
Miao Cai,
Songzhu Ye,
Tonghui Liu,
Mingbin Huang,
Wei Zhang,
Shuangfeng Jiang,
Chong Yao,
Junhui Yan,
Jiqiang Niu

Affiliations

Zhongdian Zhang: School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; Henan Dabieshan National Field Observation and Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Xinyang Academy of Ecological Research, Xinyang 464000, China
Miao Cai: College of Tourism Geography and History and Culture, Hulunbuir University, Hulunbuir 021009, China
Songzhu Ye: School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; North-South Transitional Zone Typical Vegetation Phenology Observation and Research Station of Henan Province, Xinyang 464000, China
Tonghui Liu: School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; North-South Transitional Zone Typical Vegetation Phenology Observation and Research Station of Henan Province, Xinyang 464000, China
Mingbin Huang: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Wei Zhang: College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
Shuangfeng Jiang: Xinyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinyang 464000, China
Chong Yao: School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; North-South Transitional Zone Typical Vegetation Phenology Observation and Research Station of Henan Province, Xinyang 464000, China
Junhui Yan: School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; Henan Key Laboratory for Synergistic Prevention of Water and Soil Environmental Pollution, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; North-South Transitional Zone Typical Vegetation Phenology Observation and Research Station of Henan Province, Xinyang 464000, China
Jiqiang Niu: School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; North-South Transitional Zone Typical Vegetation Phenology Observation and Research Station of Henan Province, Xinyang 464000, China; Corresponding author at: School of Geographic Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109695
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 318
p. 109695

Abstract

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Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) plantation represents one of the most important artificial vegetation types in the subtropical–warm temperate climate transition zone of China. Soil drought stress is an important factor limiting the growth of tea plantation, but its long-term evolution characteristics and relationship with climate change have yet to be quantitatively analyzed. In this study, we employed the Biome-BGCMuSo model to simulate ecohydrological dynamics over the past 60 years (1961–2020) for tea plantations in the climate transition zone. The long-term evolution of soil drought stress was analyzed based on the annual and seasonal average soil drought stress index (AveSDSI). The relationships between the interannual trends and fluctuations of AveSDSI with climate factors were further examined through factorial simulations and partial correlation analysis, respectively. The results indicated the Biome-BGCMuSo model effectively simulated the soil moisture dynamics in tea plantations in the study area. From 1961–2020, annual and seasonal AveSDSI both exhibited increasing trends, with a significant linear relationship between spring AveSDSI and time. The 11-year moving standard deviation of both annual and spring AveSDSI showed significant increasing trends, indicating intensified interannual fluctuations in soil drought stress. Factorial simulations and partial correlation analysis revealed vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and precipitation were the primary factors influencing the interannual variability of AveSDSI, respectively dominating the interannual trend and fluctuation of annual AveSDSI. Notable seasonal differences were also evident. These findings provide an important foundation for optimizing management and disaster mitigation for tea plantations in the climate transition zone.

Published in Agricultural Water Management

ISSN: 1873-2283 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Agriculture (General); Social Sciences: Industries. Land use. Labor: Special industries and trades: Agricultural industries
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/agricultural-water-management

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