Distribution and Classification of Red Soils in China

Abstract

Red soils in China include latosols, lateritic red earths, red earths, and yellow earths and are mainly equivalent to Oxisols, Ultisols, and some Alfisols in the US Taxonomy. They cover an area of 102 million ha and are mainly distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of China, including Hainan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Taiwan, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Zhejiang, and Anhui. Having been subjected to intensive weathering, these soils are usually dominated by variable charge minerals such as kaolinite and Fe and Al oxides. Most red soils in China are acidic, nutrient-deficient and low in organic matter and cation exchange capacity, partly because of soil erosion and intensive use.