Variation of soil physical-chemical characteristics in salt-affected soil in the Qarhan Salt Lake, Qaidam Basin

• Published in: Journal of arid land 2022-03, Vol.14 (3), p.341-355
• Main Authors: Hui, Rong, Tan, Huijuan, Li, Xinrong, Wang, Bingyao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Altitude; Arid climates; Aridity; Calcium ions; Correlation; Depth; Earth and Environmental Science; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Geography; Ion distribution; Ions; Magnesium; Microorganisms; Mineral nutrients; Moisture content; Mountains; Nutrients; Physical Geography; Plant Ecology; Playas; Research Article; Salinity; Salinity effects; Salinization; Salt; Salt lakes; Segments; Sodium; Soil chemistry; Soil depth; Soil investigations; Soil nutrients; Soil quality; Soil salinity; Soil salinization; Soil water; Sustainable Development; Water content; Water depth
• ISSN: 1674-6767; 2194-7783
• DOI: 10.1007/s40333-022-0091-z

Soil salinization has adverse effects on the soil physical-chemical characteristics. However, little is known about the changes in soil salt ion concentrations and other soil physical-chemical characteristics within the Qarhan Salt Lake and at different soil depths in the surrounding areas. Here, we selected five sampling sites (S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5) alongside the Qarhan Salt Lake and in the Xidatan segment of the Kunlun Mountains to investigate the relationship among soil salt ion concentrations, soil physical-chemical characteristics, and environmental variables in April 2019. The results indicated that most sites had strongly saline and very strongly saline conditions. The main salt ions present in the soil were Na + , K + , and Cl − . Soil nutrients and soil microbial biomass (SMB) were significantly affected by the salinity ( P