Changes of the Soil Physical Properties in Hydro-Fluctuation Belt of the Three Gorges Reservoir

In order to understand any influence of water level fluctuating on the soil physical properties in hydrofluctuation belt of the three gorges reservoir. fixed-location monitoring was made for two years. The results showed that after two years with the water level fluctuating,the bulk density increased by 0. 7% 4. 6% and total porosity,capillary porosity,non-capillary respectively decreased by 0. 2% 7. 5% ,0. 6% 4. 0% ,32% 60. 8% and the maximum moisture capacity,capillary moisture capacity and field capacity respectively decreased by 0. 6% 15. 1% ,0. 7% 11. 9% ,0. 3% 12. 5% . The soil physical properties obviously varied,but the differences were not significant ( P 0. 05). After the water level fluctuating for three years,the bulk density increased by 7% 17% in comparison with the non-submerged zones,the total porosity decreased by 18% 21% ,the capillary porosity decreased by 11. 3% 24. 3% , the non-capillary porosity decreased by 35% 53% ,the maximum moisture capacity decreased by 28% 31% ,the capillary moisture capacity decreased by 26% 31% ,and the field capacity decreased by 26% 32% . There were significant (P 0. 05) differences in the soil physical indicators between the non-submerged zones and the submerged zones in each soli layer.