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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4760
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4760
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
21 Aug 2026
| 21 Aug 2026
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Irrigation Water Redistribution and Competition Mechanisms Between Cropland and Shelterbelts in Arid Regions: Insights from Stable Water Isotopes data
Abstract. Protective forests play an important role in maintaining the stability of arid oasis agroecosystems; however, water exchange and competition between shelterbelts and cropland under limited water availability remain poorly quantified. This study used stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes to investigate irrigation-water redistribution and water-use interactions in a maize (Zea mays L.)–poplar (Populus alba L.) shelterbelt system in the Minqin Oasis, Hexi Corridor. The results showed that irrigation water was transferred from cropland to shelterbelts through both soil lateral movement and root-mediated uptake. Across four irrigation events, modeled transpiration-related water exchange between farmland and shelterbelts reached 84.49 mm, accounting for 19.56 % of applied irrigation water. Irrigation-induced lateral transfer into shelterbelt soil averaged 13.26 % of irrigation depth, with the largest contribution occurring in the 20–60 cm soil layer (5.49 %). Maize and poplar exhibited substantial overlap in water-source use, with a mean proportional similarity index of 73.35 %, indicating strong potential competition for soil water resources. These findings reveal that irrigation water redistribution links cropland and shelterbelts through coupled hydrological processes and highlight the need to jointly consider crop water demand and shelterbelt water consumption in arid oasis management.
How to cite. Wang, X., Qiu, D., Zhu, G., Liu, Y., Li, R., Zheng, Z., Ma, R., Sun, W., Li, Y., Yang, D., and Lei, Y.: Irrigation Water Redistribution and Competition Mechanisms Between Cropland and Shelterbelts in Arid Regions: Insights from Stable Water Isotopes data, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4760, 2026.
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Xinyue Wang
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Dongdong Qiu
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Joint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Yuanfeng Liu
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Science of Gansu Province, 730020, Lanzhou, China
Soil and Water Conservation Engineering Research Center of Gansu Province, 730020, Lanzhou, China
Rui Li
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Zhijie Zheng
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Ru Ma
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Wenzhang Sun
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Yaxin Li
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Dongfei Yang
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Yitian Lei
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Shiyang River Ecological Environment Observation Station, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Lanzhou Sub-center of the Remote Sensing Application Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
Short summary
This study used stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes to examine irrigation-water redistribution and maize–poplar water-use interactions in the Minqin Oasis. Irrigation water moved vertically through farmland soil and laterally toward shelterbelts. Maize mainly used shallow–middle soil water, whereas poplar relied more on deeper water. A mean PS index of 73.35 % indicated substantial water-source overlap.
This study used stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes to examine irrigation-water redistribution...