Rock fracture characteristics regulate water storage and seasonal tree water uptake in karst

Liu, Xiuqiang; Chen, Xi; Zhang, Zhicai; Liu, Weihan; Peng, Tao; McDonnell, Jeffrey J.

doi:10.5194/hess-30-3061-2026

Articles | Volume 30, issue 10

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-3061-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-3061-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 30, issue 10

Research article

|

20 May 2026

Research article |

| 20 May 2026

Rock fracture characteristics regulate water storage and seasonal tree water uptake in karst

Xiuqiang Liu, Xi Chen, Zhicai Zhang, Weihan Liu, Tao Peng, and Jeffrey J. McDonnell

Data sets

Stable isotope (δ¹⁸O, δD) dataset of soil water, rock fracture water, precipitation, and xylem water in a subtropical karst ecosystem, southwest China (2022–2025) Xiuqiang Liu https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16810833

Guizhou Karst Rock Fracture, Soil Moisture, Sap Flow, and Meteorological Data Xiuqiang Liu https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14827769

Model code and software

Chronic nitrogen legacy in the aquifers of China Xin Liu https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14565556

Short summary

Trees in rocky landscapes often depend on hidden water deep underground, yet the role of bedrock cracks remains unclear. In a karst forest in southwest China, we traced water movement and seasonal use by trees using stable isotopes. We found that large soil-filled fractures can store water for months, providing a crucial supply in the early growing season and helping forests cope with wet–dry changes in rainfall patterns.