Soil Taxonomy and Distribution Characteristics of the Permafrost Region in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

• Published in: Journal of mountain science Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 1448 - 1459
• Main Authors: Fang, Hong-bing, Zhao, Lin, Wu, Xiao-dong, Zhao, Yu-guo, Zhao, Yong-hua, Hu, Guo-jie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Science Press 01.11.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Environment; Geography; Permafrost; Soil sciences; Soil types; Zonal distribution; 中国土壤系统分类; 土壤分类; 垂直地带性; 多年冻土地区; 特征; 西藏高原; 青海; 高原多年冻土区; China; Asia, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; China, People's Rep; Soil taxonomy; Permafrost region; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; Soil distribution
• ISSN: 1672-6316; 1993-0321; 1008-2786
• DOI: 10.1007/s11629-014-3133-y

Understanding the soil taxonomy and distribution characteristics of the permafrost region in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau（QTP） is very important. On the basis of extensive field surveys and experimental analysis, this study carries out soil taxonomic classification of the permafrost region in the QTP. According to Chinese Soil Taxonomy, the soil of the permafrost region in the QTP can be divided into 6 Orders（Histosols, Aridosols, Gleyosols, Isohumosols, Cambosols, Primosols）, 11 Suborders, 19 Groups and 24 Subgroups. Cambosols are the dominant soil type in the permafrost region, followed by Aridosols. From the east to the west of the permafrost region in the QTP, the soil type gradually changes from Cambosols to Aridosols, showing a meridional zonality. The eastern region is dominated by Cambosols, with no obvious latitudinal zonality. From the south to the northwest of the western region, the dominance of Aridosols and Cambosols gradually transited to Aridosols, presenting a latitudinal zonality. The soil in the western region shows a poor vertical zonality, while the distribution of suborders of Cambosols in the eastern region shows a more obvious vertical zonality. The result indicates that precipitation and vegetation are the main factors that influence the zonal distribution of soil. The permafrost in the east has some effect on the vertical soil zonality, but the effect is weakened in the west.