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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (3): 199-209.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2022.00125

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Assessment of soil quality in typical wind erosion area of Qaidam Basin

Mengzhen Huang(), Ruijie Lu(), Jin Zhao, Luo Ma   

  1. MOE Engineering Research Center of Desertification and Blown-sand Control / State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology,Beijing Normal University,Beijing 100875,China
  • Received:2022-08-03 Revised:2022-09-29 Online:2023-05-20 Published:2023-05-31
  • Contact: Ruijie Lu

Abstract:

Soil quality assessment is the key to effectively protect soil, and it is crucial to ensure ecosystem stability, regional ecological security and sustainable development. The Qaidam Basin is the most serious wind erosion area in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The change of soil system caused by wind erosion has a profound impact on the ecological security barrier and water conservation function of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Based on the analysis of physical and chemical properties of surface soil in typical wind erosion areas of Qaidam Basin, this paper uses principal component analysis to establish the minimum data set, and constructs the comprehensive index of soil quality for soil quality evaluation. The results show that the soil bulk density, calcium carbonate, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and available phosphorus content in Qaidam Basin only reach the fourth or fifth grade under the quality classification standard of the second national soil census. The quality of soil physical and chemical indicators is poor. In terms of spatial distribution, the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, total phosphorus and sand in the eastern region of Qaidam Basin are higher than those in the western region, while the contents of available potassium and gravel in the western region are higher than those in the eastern region. The minimum data set ( MDS ) of soil quality evaluation in Qaidam Basin includes five indicators : bulk density, organic matter, total phosphorus, available potassium and sand content. The soil quality comprehensive index ( MDS-SQI ) based on the MDS has good representativeness and applicability. The overall soil quality in Qaidam Basin is poor, and gradually deteriorates from the eastern region to the western region. The soil quality in the study area is divided into grade I-V from good to poor. Grade I-II sampling points are mainly distributed in the eastern region, and the area is small. Grade III-V sampling points are mainly distributed in the central and western regions. The wind erosion intensity in Qaidam Basin is significantly negatively correlated with MDS-SQI, and the prevention and control of soil wind erosion in Qaidam Basin is an important measure to curb the continuous deterioration of soil quality.

Key words: soil quality assessment, minimum data set, principal component analysis, Qaidam Basin

CLC Number: