Abstract
This study was carried out to clarify the soil moisture characteristics in an artificial forest of a botanical garden and orchard which are adjacent to each other. The soil moisture characteristics were investigated by the daily fluctuations in soil moisture from August to September when the dryness of soil is at its peak. The results obtained are as follows.
1) Precipitation conditions in August and September in 1987 were found to correspond to the droughty year of one-third to one-forth probability.
2) Situations of soil moisture in the artificial forest amounted to over 400 cm H2O at a depth of 90 cm.
3) Situations of soil moisture in the orchard were below 300 cmH2O at a depth of 70 cm.
4) Average value of soil moisture in the artificial forest was in the range of 500cmH2O to 630 cmH2O under a soil layer condition of 90 cm during the dry period, but in the orchard itwas below 250cmH2O.
5) Soil layers in the artificial forest were found to be dried than that in the orchardbecause the ground level in the former where is artificially banked over the original ground is higher than that in the latter, and consequently, the rainfall can not be stored to any extent in spite of having a higher water-holding capacity.
