Figure 1.

The changes in SMC and PR in shallow and hardpan layers under different water treatments in Exp. 1 (a) and under different water and hardpan bulk density (BD) treatments in Exp. 2 (b). Horizontal bars along x-axis in Fig. 1a,b indicate the prevailing soil moisture conditions during SMF. The relationships between the changes in SMC and PR in shallow and hardpan layers in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively (c,d). The BD of the shallow layer was 1.25 g cm⁻³ in both Exp. 1 and 2 while that of the hardpan layer was 1.50 g cm⁻³ in Exp. 1 and either 1.50 or 1.70 g cm⁻³ in Exp. 2. WW, well-watered and SMF, soil moisture fluctuation treatments. Error bars represent the standard deviation calculated from 3 replicates. ***Indicate significant at P < 0.001.