The Soil Moisture Dataset of Typical Ecosystems in Ailao Mountain (2019-2022)

Soil moisture plays a crucial role in terrestrial forest ecosystems, serving as an essential medium for material cycling and energy flow. It directly influences key ecological processes such as plant growth and hydrological cycles. Long-term observation and research on soil moisture contribute to a deeper understanding of the hydrological characteristics, water retention capacity, and ecosystem service dynamics of forest systems. Subtropical forests, which represent the most widespread forest type in China, play a vital role in regulating global climate change and maintaining biodiversity. The Ailao Mountains in Yunnan Province constitute an important subtropical forest region in China, characterized by high biodiversity and significant functions in water conservation and carbon sequestration. Continuous, long-term, and high-quality ecological monitoring is one of the core missions of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN), within which soil moisture is a key indicator for long-term monitoring of the terrestrial ecosystem water environment. This dataset compiles soil moisture monitoring data from four vegetation types—evergreen broad-leaved forest, Populus forest, tea plantations, and Pteridium shrubland—covering the period from 2019 to 2022. The data were collected using a soil moisture monitoring system at 30-minute intervals. Data quality was strictly controlled in accordance with CERN's standardized protocols. This dataset is of significant importance for revealing forest hydrological dynamics and cycling processes, evaluating the water conservation capacity of different forest types, and predicting ecosystem responses to climate change and human activities. It also provides a scientific basis for optimizing forest management strategies and maintaining ecosystem health.