Abstract Overexploitation and climate change accelerate the degradation of Jordan's arid rangelands. Uncovered and crusted soils increase runoff and erosion and hinder the emergence of the native vegetation. Micro water harvesting combined with shrub-seedling plantation have been widely applied to reverse land degradation trends. However, consequential soil water and vegetation dynamics have been rarely assessed, which constrains further out-scaling of the rehabilitation practice to complex environments. In Jordan, an experiment was set up to study the linkages between local rainfall characteristics, soil moisture and the development of out-planted shrub-seedlings. Soil moisture was recorded at approximately weekly time-interval during the rainy and dry season 2017/2018 using a manually operated soil water sensor. Transect monitoring was pursued up and down the slope across four micro water harvesting pits and the interspaces. Data confirmed a significant soil moisture increase inside the pits - bridging intra-seasonal dry spells and soil water potentially deep-percolated into the karstic bedrock underneath. The study found that the out-planted shrubs' stem diameter and height predominantly increased during post rainy season, when the interspaces dried up while the pits continued providing moisture. The results are promising and contribute to integrated research towards halting land degradation and sustainable agro-pastoral development.

中文翻译：

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约旦退化牧场的恢复：机械化微水收集对山坡尺度土壤水和植被动态的影响

摘要 过度开发和气候变化加速了约旦干旱牧场的退化。未覆盖和结痂的土壤会增加径流和侵蚀，并阻碍本地植被的出现。微量集水结合灌木苗木种植已被广泛应用于扭转土地退化趋势。然而，很少评估相应的土壤水和植被动态，这限制了恢复实践的进一步扩展到复杂环境。在约旦，开展了一项试验来研究当地降雨特征、土壤水分和外植灌木幼苗发育之间的联系。在 2017/2018 年雨季和旱季期间，使用手动操作的土壤水分传感器以大约每周的时间间隔记录土壤水分。横断面监测在四个微型集水坑和间隙沿斜坡上下进行。数据证实坑内土壤水分显着增加 - 弥合季节性干旱期和土壤水可能深层渗透到下面的岩溶基岩中。研究发现，外植灌木的茎直径和高度主要在雨季后增加，此时间隙干涸而坑继续提供水分。结果是有希望的，有助于综合研究，以阻止土地退化和可持续的农牧业发展。数据证实坑内土壤水分显着增加 - 弥合季节性干旱期和土壤水可能深层渗透到下面的岩溶基岩中。研究发现，外植灌木的茎直径和高度主要在雨季后增加，此时间隙干涸而坑继续提供水分。结果是有希望的，有助于综合研究，以阻止土地退化和可持续的农牧业发展。数据证实坑内土壤水分显着增加 - 弥合季节性干旱期和土壤水可能深层渗透到下面的岩溶基岩中。研究发现，外植灌木的茎直径和高度主要在雨季后增加，此时间隙干涸而坑继续提供水分。结果是有希望的，有助于综合研究，以阻止土地退化和可持续的农牧业发展。