The soil water content in each treatment at 50-cm intervals on June 20, 2010 (at the start of the rainy season, which was characterized by low rainfall, low soil water consumption, and low soil water content).

Note: Different superscript letters in the same row indicate significant differences at P< 0.05 The soil water content of each 50-cm soil profile layer was determined as the mean of measurements at 10-cm intervals BL, bare land; BSCs, biological soil crusts; STBU, Stipa bungeana Trin.; CAKO, Caragana korshinskii Kom. The soil water content in each treatment at 50-cm intervals on June 20, 2010 (at the start of the rainy season, which was characterized by low rainfall, low soil water consumption, and low soil water content).