Abstract: We examined the effects of moss-dominated biocrusts on soil infiltration properties in Wangjiaqiao watershed of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Five levels of coverage (1%-20%, 20%-40%, 40%-60%, 60%-80% and 80%-100%) were set, with a nearby bare land as the control. We collected soil samples and conducted infiltration process observation by double cutting ring method. The results showed that biocrusts could appreciably increase soil cohesion, porosity, clay content, water-stable aggregates and organic carbon of topsoil, but significantly reduce soil bulk density and sand content. Biocrusts promoted soil water infiltration, with the initial infiltration rate (I_i), stable infiltration rate (I_f), average infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration amount being two times or more of that in bare land. Withbiocrust coverage increasing, soil infiltration properties firstly increased and then decreased, and peaked at 40%-60% coverage level. Results of path analysis indicated that I_i was mainly affected by biocrust coverage, soil bulk density, and organic carbon content, while I_f was mainly affected by biocrust coverage and soil bulk density. The simulation results of four infiltration models demonstrated that Horton model was the best fitting on the water infiltration process of biocrusted soil in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

Key words: soil water infiltration, biological soil crust, ecological function