


Pruning promoted soil moisture infiltration to deeper soil layer. C 1, C 2 and C 3 pruning intensities increased soil water storage by 6.1–18.3, 14.4–40.0 and 24.3–63.3 mm, respectively, compared to CK pruning intensity. Soil moisture increased with increasing pruning intensity during the jujube growing period of 2012–2015. The results showed that pruning is an effective method for soil water conservation in jujube plantations. In this study, we monitored the jujube plots with control (CK), light (C 1), medium (C 2) and high (C 3) pruning intensities during the jujube growing period of 2012–2015 to explore the effect of pruning intensity on soil moisture and water use efficiency (WUE) of jujube plantations in the hilly Loess Plateau Region. Pruning is recognized as a water-saving method that can reduces soil water consumption. However, soil desiccation was discovered in jujube plantations. Jujube ( Ziziphus jujube Mill.) is a traditional economic forest crop and is widely cultivated in hilly areas of the Loess Plateau, China.
