Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR05083
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 44(3)

Soil quality indices and their application in the hilly loess plateau region of China

Mingxiang Xu A B E , Yunge Zhao A B C , Guobin Liu A B and Robert M. Argent D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.

B Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.

C State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, CAS and MWR, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.

D Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: mingxiang_xu@yahoo.com.cn

Australian Journal of Soil Research 44(3) 245-254 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR05083
Submitted: 15 June 2005  Accepted: 9 February 2006   Published: 5 May 2006

Abstract

Soil quality in the hilly Loess Plateau region of China is seriously degraded due to hillside cultivation and severe soil erosion. No established methods are available for evaluating the regional soil quality nor has integrated soil quality assessment been conducted in the region. Our objectives were to (i) develop soil quality models and assessment methods, (ii) verify the representativeness of selected soil quality indicators, and (iii) evaluate landuse effects on regional soil quality. The research was conducted on 707 km2 of typical hilly Loess Plateau in Shaanxi province, China. Soil samples (total 208) were taken from 5 catchments under 10 different landuse types. Two integrated evaluation methods (weighted summation and weighted product) and 2 indicator sets (a whole and a minimum set) were tested, each producing a soil quality index. Quantitative evaluation of soil quality in different landuse types was also performed. The results showed that the weighted product method provided better differentiation of soil quality between landuses. The minimum indicator set of 8 soil quality indicators, selected by factor analysis from a complete set of 29 soil attributes, reflected all or most of the information of the whole set in assessing regional soil quality. Soil quality index (SQI) values under different landuse types ranged from 0.842 for natural woodland to 0.150 for orchard. Index values for orchard, cropland, revegetated grassland, and planted grassland were significantly less than those for 6 other landuse types, whereas planted shrubland, planted woodland, and natural grassland indices were significantly less than those for greenhouse, natural shrubland, and natural woodland. No significant difference in SQI was found between orchard, cropland, revegetated grassland, and planted grassland, or between planted shrubland and planted woodland. Overall, it was found that soil quality was generally poor across the region, except for natural woodland, shrubland and greenhouse areas.

Additional keywords: soil quality index, soil quality evaluation, soil quality classification.


Acknowledgments

This research was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No.40301028 and No.40401026), ‘Western star’ Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We thank Ansai Field Research Station for its support in soil sampling and field experiments.


References


Andrews SS, Karlen DL, Cambardella CA (2004) The soil management assessment framework: A quantitative soil quality evaluation method. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68, 1945–1962. open url image1

Andrews SS, Karlen DL, Mitchell JP (2002a) A comparison of soil quality indexing methods for vegetable production systems in Northern California. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 90, 25–45.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Andrews SS, Mitchell JP, Mancinelli R, Karlen DL, Hartz TK, Horwath WR, Pettygrove GS, Scow KM, Munk DS (2002b) On-farm assessment of soil quality in California’s central valley. Agronomy Journal 94, 12–23. open url image1

Arshad MA, Martin S (2002) Identifying critical limits for soil quality indicators in agro-ecosystems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 88, 153–160.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Blair GJ, Lefroy RDB, Lisle L (1995) Soil carbon fractions based on their degree of oxidation, and the development of a carbon management index for agricultural systems. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 46, 1459–1466.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Blake GR , Hartge KH (1986) Bulk density and particle density. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 363–382. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Brejda JJ, Karlen DL, Smith JL, Allan DL (2000a) Identification of regional soil quality factors and indicators: II. Northern Mississippi Loess Hills and Palouse Prairie. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64, 2125–2135. open url image1

Brejda JJ, Moorman TB, Karlen DL, Dao TH (2000b) Identification of regional soil quality factors and indicators: I. Central and southern high plains. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64, 2115–2124. open url image1

Brejda JJ, Moorman TB, Smith JL, Karlen DL, Allan DL, Dao TH (2000c) Distribution and variability of surface soil properties at a regional scale. Soil Science Society of America Journal 64, 974–982. open url image1

Bremner JM , Mulvaney CS (1982) Nitrogen-total. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 595–614. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Cao ZH, Huang JF, Zhang CS, Li AF (2004) Soil quality evolution after land use change from paddy soil to vegetable land. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 26, 97–103.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Danielson RE , Sutherland PL (1986) Porosity. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 433–461. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Doran JW , Parkin TB (1994) Defining and assessing soil quality. In ‘Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment’. SSSA Spl. Publ. 35. (Eds JW Doran, DC Coleman, DF Bezdicek, BA Stewart) pp. 3–21. (SSSA and ASA: Madison, WI)

Doran JW , Parkin TB (1996) Quantitative indicators of soil quality: A minimum data set. In ‘Methods for assessing soil quality’. SSSA Special Publ. 49. (Eds JW Doran, AJ Jones) pp. 25–37. (SSSA: Madison, WI)

Finkl CW (1982) ‘Soil classification.’ (Hutchinson Ross Publishing Company: Stroudsburg, PA)

Gee GW , Bauder JW (1986) Particle-size analysis. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 383–411. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

He XB (2002) Response of structural indicators to soil quality in reclaimed woodland. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation [in Chinese] 16, 110–112. open url image1

Islam KR, Weil RR (2000) Soil quality indicator properties in mid-Atlantic soils as influenced by conservation management. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 55, 69–78. open url image1

John PE (1982) Soil respiration. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 831–871. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Karlen DL, Andrews SS, Doran JW (2001) Soil quality: Current concepts and applications. Advances in Agronomy 74, 1–40. open url image1

Karlen DL , Diane ES (1994) ‘A framework for evaluating physical and chemical indicators of soil quality.’ (Soil Science Society of America, Inc.: Madison, WI)

Karlen DL, Ditzler CA, Andrews SS (2003) Soil quality: why and how? Geoderma 114, 145–156.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Karlen DL, Gardner JC, Rosek MJ (1998) A soil quality framework for evaluating the impact of CRP. Journal of Production Agriculture 11, 56–60. open url image1

Keeney DR , Nelson DE (1982) Nitrogen-Inorganic forms. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 643–698. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Kemper WD , Rosenau RC (1986) Aggregate stability and size distribution. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1’. 2nd edn, Agronomy Monograph 9. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 425–442. (ASA: Madison, WI)

Klute A , Dirksen C (1986) Hydraulic conductivity and diffusivity: laboratory methods. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 687–734. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Li Y, Lindstrom MJ (2001) Evaluating soil quality-soil redistribution relationship on terraces and steep hillslope. Soil Science Society of America Journal 65, 1500–1508. open url image1

Li Y, Lindstrom MJ, Zhang JH (2000) Spatial variability patterns of soil redistribution and soil quality on two contrasting hillslopes. Acta Geol. Hisp. 35, 261–270. open url image1

Li Y, Tian G, Lindstrom MJ, Bork HR (2004) Variation of surface soil quality parameters by intensive donkey-drawn tillage on steep slope. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68, 907–913. open url image1

Liu G (1996) ‘Soil physical and chemical analysis and description of soil profiles.’ (Standards Press of China: Beijing)

Liu G, Xu M, Coen R (2003) Study on soil characteristics in a small watershed in the hilly-gullied area on the Loess Plateau in China. CATENA 54, 31–44.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Liu GB (1999) Soil conservation and sustainable agriculture on the Loess Plateau: Challenges and prospects. Ambio 28, 663–668. open url image1

Liu GB , Xu MX , Li R , Walker J , Hu WY (2002) Assessment of a small catchment on the Loess Plateau. In ‘Regional water and soil assessment for managing sustainable agriculture in China and Australia’. ACIAR Monograph No. 84. (Eds TR McVicar, R Li, J Walker, RW Fitzpatrick, C Liu) pp. 139–154. (ACIAR: Canberra)

Nelson DW , Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Pt 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 539–580. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Nortcliff S (2002) Standardisation of soil quality attributes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 88, 161–168.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Norusis MJ (2000) ‘SPSS 10.0 Guide to data analysis.’ (Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ)

Rhoades JD (1982) Cation exchange capacity. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Pt 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 149–158. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Olsen SR , Sommers LE (1982) Phosphorus. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 403–430. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Schinner F, von Mersi W (1990) Xylanase-, CM-cellulase- and invertase-activity in soil: an improved method. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 22, 511–515.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Schloter M, Dilly O, Munch JC (2003) Indicators for evaluating soil quality. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 98, 255–262.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Shi YX, Tang KL (1996) Soil nutrient degradation under influence of forestland accelerated erosion. Journal of Soil Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation [in Chinese] 2, 26–33. open url image1

Soil Survey Staff (1999) ‘Soil Taxonomy. A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys.’ USDA Agric. Handbook No. 436. (U.S. Gov. Print. Office: Washington, DC)

Sun B, Zhao QG (1999) Evaluation indices and methods of soil quality concerning red soil degradation. Progress in Geography [in Chinese] 18, 118–128. open url image1

Sun B, Zhou SL, Zhao QG (2003) Evaluation of spatial and temporal changes of soil quality based on geostatistical analysis in the hill region of subtropical China. Geoderma 115, 85–99.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Tabatabai MA (1982) Soil Enzymes. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 903–948. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Thomas GW (1982) Exchangeable cations. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2’. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 159–165. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

USDA-NRCS (2001) Guidelines for soil quality assessment in conservation planning. National Production Services: 501 West Felix St., Bldg. 23, Fort Worth, TX. [Online at http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/guidelines.html]

Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 19, 703–707.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Wang JG, Yang LZ, Shan YH (2001) Application of fuzzy mathematics to soil quality evaluation. Acta Pedologica Sinica [In Chinese] 38, 176–183. open url image1

Wienhold BJ, Andrews SS, Karlen DL (2004) Soil quality: a review of the science and experiences in the USA. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 26, 89–95.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | open url image1

Xu MX , Liu GB , Hu WY (2002) Soil characteristics and its dynamic variation in a small catchment on the Loess Plateau of China. In ‘Proceedings of 12th International Soil Conservation Organization Conference’. Beijing. pp. 51–57. (Tsinghua University Press: China)

Xu MX, Zhao YG, Liu GB, Wilson G (2006) Identification of soil quality factors and indicators in hilly Loess Plateau of China. Soil Science In press , open url image1