“…Soil water movement is described using the layered water balance equation derived from the discretized Richards equation. The VIP model has been successfully applied to ecohydrological studies in North China Plain (Hu et al, 2014; Mo, Liu, Lin, & Guo, 2009; Mo et al, 2017), North‐eastern China (Mo et al, 2014) and the Loess Plateau (Bai et al, 2019; Liu et al, 2009; Mo, Liu, Chen, et al, 2009), as well as the endorheic Mongolian Plateau (Bai et al, 2020). Details of the VIP model can be seen in Mo, Beven, et al (2004) and Mo, Liu, et al (2004).…”