Loess Plateau Soil Study Reveals Urgent Need for Ecological Reconstruction
Soil organic carbon is crucial for preventing erosion and preserving the environment on the Loess Plateau. Researchers studied different soils to estimate organic carbon density and storage. They found that brunisolic soil had the highest organic carbon density, while aeolian soil had the lowest. Organic carbon storage was highest in grey cinnamonic and loessal soils, and lowest in grey desert and alkali soils. Overall, organic carbon storage increased from northwest to southeast on the plateau. Loessal and aeolian soils, despite being common, had low organic carbon content. Increasing organic carbon in these soils is important for future ecological reconstruction on the Loess Plateau.