Abstract: Taking the non-irrigated plantations Gurbantunggut Desert as study subjects, soil water contents within 100 cm below the ground were investigated under different management (cutting, thinning) from April to September 2012. The results showed that cutting and thinning treatments changed the soil moisture utilization ways of the plantation. The soil moisture in each layer was decreased after the thinning of Haloxylon persicum forest. However, the decrease of the soil moisture in the soil layers decreased with the increase of the soil depth. The soil moisture even raised in 50-70 cm and 70-100 cm depths. The stronger the thinning, the shallower and higher the soil moisture. The thinning can also keep the monthly soil moisture stable. The soil moisture decreased at each soil layers as well after the cutting of the artificial Calligonum rubicundum forest. The cutting also increased the variation of the soil moisture in different months. In conclusion, it would be benefits for conserving soil moisture within 100 cm below the ground through thinning the artificial H. persicum forest; and cutting the artificial C. rubicundum forest to improve the effectiveness of the root water absorption.

Key words: thinning, cutting, artificial forest, soil depth, soil moisture, Gurbantunggut desert