Spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture infiltration and its driving mechanisms in a karst slope forest ecosystem

Based on the provided documents, this dataset comprises a comprehensive collection of field measurements and laboratory analyses from a hillslope ecological hydrology study. The data is organized into five interrelated tables, each focusing on different aspects of the soil-plant-atmosphere system at various slope positions.
1. Environmental Context (Table 1):​ This table establishes the baseline environmental characteristics for five slope positions (S1 to S5, likely from hillbase to hilltop). It records altitude, slope angle, soil thickness, rock fragment content, canopy density, and root biomass for three samples at each position.
2. Soil Physical Properties (Table 2):​ This detailed table provides soil physical and chemical properties at four depths (10, 20, 30, 40 cm) for the same five slope positions. Measured parameters include bulk density, capillary porosity, non-capillary porosity, total porosity, soil organic matter content, and soil macro-aggregate content.
3. Soil Moisture Dynamics (Table 3 & Table 5):
Table 3​ presents soil moisture content (%) at the five slope positions (S1-S5) across four depths for each month of the year. It includes both raw data from three samples per location and calculated monthly average values for each position and depth.
Table 5​ provides soil moisture content (%) for a flat plot (control) at four depths, measured monthly from January to December, with five sample replicates.
4. Preferential Flow Characterization (Table 4):​ This table describes the results of a dye tracer experiment used to visualize water movement. For each slope position (S1-S5), it records the dyeing depth, width, area, and calculates indices for preferential flow and lateral flow, indicating how water infiltrates and moves through the soil profile.
In summary, this dataset integrates topographic parameters, soil physical properties, temporal soil moisture patterns​ across a hillslope and a flat control plot, and qualitative indices of water flow paths. It is designed for analyzing the spatial and temporal variability of soil water and its controlling factors in a sloped landscape.