Minimum Quota of Ecological Water Requirement of Forestland in Henan Province

Based on the data of 119 meteorological stations and soil type distribution in Henan Province, the minimum quota of ecological water requirement by forest land (MQEWRF) of each site was calculated, and its spatial variation feature was analyzed by using the GIS technique. The results showed that the MQEWRF in Henan Province varied from 30603m3/hm2 to 50051m3/hm2 with the average value of 35811m3/hm2. The MQEWRF value was mainly influenced by evapotranspiration of forest vegetation, whose maximum value was located in Dengfeng City whereas the minimum one was found in Lushi County. The spatial tendency analysis showed that the MQEWRF value increased from the southern to northern part, and from the eastern or western to the central part of Henan Province. The ordination showed there was a good spatial continuity among the adjacent regions, and there was no obvious difference among the regions. The results could be referred by the calculation of ecological water requirement and regional water balance, and by the similar research in a large scale in arid and semiarid regions.