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Distribution patterns of SOC/TN content and their relationship with topography, vegetation and climatic factors in China’s north-south transitional zone

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Abstract

The spatial distributions and variation mechanism of key soil indices in the Qinling-Daba Mountains are important indicators for the identification of the transitional effect and regional characteristics of the north—south transitional zone in China. This manuscript analyzes the spatial variations in soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) and corresponding relationships with major geographical factors based on spatial analysis and geostatistics considering data obtained from the Second National Soil Survey. The results indicate that the spatial distributions of the SOC and TN contents are consistent, and three high-content areas, one secondary high-content area and one low-content area are observed. High content values are located in the high-altitude regions of the Qinling-Daba Mountains and mountainous areas to the west of the Jialing River, the low-content area occurs on the north slope of the Qinling Mountains, and the secondary high-content area mainly encompasses both sides of the Hanjiang River and regions in the Qinling-Daba Mountains at altitudes below 1000 m. The SOC and TN contents vary between the above two ranges, with the gradual increase in content revealing a horn-shaped pattern. Considering the spatial variations and functions of vegetation, topography and climate factors, it is found that the SOC/TN range in the secondary high-content area remains consistent along the 1000 m contour line, the upper limit of the transitional mountain altitudinal belt, the 0°C isotherm line in January and the 24°C isotherm line in July. This region constitutes the main body of the transitional zone between the subtropical and warm temperate zones, and the northern boundary is roughly distributed along the Dujiangyan-Maoxian-Pingwu-Wenxian line to the west of the Jialing River and the 1000 m contour line on the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains, while the southern boundary occurs along the Dujiangyan-Beichuan-Qingchuan line to the west of the Jialing River and the 1000 m contour line on the northern slope of the Daba Mountains. SOC/TN spatial variation provides a reference for the demarcation of the subtropical and warm temperate zones, and further identification of the soil processes and ecological effects in typical regions can help reveal multidimensional transitional characteristics and variation mechanisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions (Henan University), Ministry of Education, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China

    Junhua Zhang, Lianqi Zhu, Guodong Li, Fang Zhao & Jingting Qin

  2. College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China

    Junhua Zhang, Lianqi Zhu, Guodong Li, Fang Zhao & Jingting Qin

Authors
  1. Junhua Zhang
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  2. Lianqi Zhu
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  3. Guodong Li
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  4. Fang Zhao
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  5. Jingting Qin
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Correspondence to Guodong Li.

Additional information

Foundation: National Scientific and Technological Basic Resources Investigation Project, No.2017FY100900; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.42171112; Key Research and Development Project in Henan Province, No.212102310415

Author: Zhang Junhua, Professor, specialized in soil environmental change and land surface processes.

This paper is initially published in Acta Geographica Sinica (Chinese edition), 2021, 76(9): 2269–2282.

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Zhang, J., Zhu, L., Li, G. et al. Distribution patterns of SOC/TN content and their relationship with topography, vegetation and climatic factors in China’s north-south transitional zone. J. Geogr. Sci. 32, 645–662 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-022-1965-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-022-1965-x

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