Abstract
Mean concentrations of 62 elements, pH, organic matter and grain size have been computed for soil samples from 4,095 locations throughout mainland China The compositions of geochemical data between mainland China and the conterminous United States and between Tibet and Alaska show a close correspondence for most elements determined. These geochemical data may reveal evidence of regional variations in the abundance of elements in soils. In general, the sequence for metal content in samples of soil orders was: Lithosol>Cold-highland soils>Inceptisol> Aridisol = Mollisol>Ultisol>Alfisol>Oxisol. This trend was apparently a result of climatic influence on soil genesis, with the Oxisols (high rainfall areas with highly weathered and highly leached soils) yielding the lowest elemental mean values. However, the highest mean values of most trace elements in the Lithosols were a result of its relatively high indigenous elemental contents as well as chemical properties of the bedrock from which the soils were formed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Gough, L. P., Severson, R. C. and Shacklette, H. T.: 1988, ‘Element concentrations in soils and other surficial materials of Alaska’, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington.
Institute of Forestry and Pedology, Chinese Academy of Sciences: 1980, Soils of Northeast China, China Science Press, Beijing.
Institute of Pedology, Chinese Academy of Sciences: 1959, Soil-geographical Division of China, China Science Press, Beijing.
Institute of Pedology and Soil Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences: 1961, Soils of North China Plains, China Science Press, Beijing.
Joint Group for investigating background data of certain elements in soils of some areas in China: 1982, Natural background data for certain element concentrations of soils in some areas of China and methodology, China Science Press, Beijing.
Kovda, B. A.: 1960, Physical conditions and soils of China, China Science Press, Beijing.
Pedology Institute of Nanjing, Chinese Academy of Sciences: 1978, Soils of China, China Science Press, Beijing.
Shacklette, H. T. and Boerngen, J. G.: 1984, ‘Element concentrations in soils and other surficial materials of the conterminous United States’, USGS Prof. Paper 1270, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington.
Wen, Shi and Huang, J. Li, Liu, H., Lin, P. and Han, B.: 1965, Soil Geography of Xinjiang, China Science Press, Beijing.
Wu, X. Mang, Chen, W. and San, J.: 1986, ‘Regional features of soil background values and their distributive rules in the Songhuajian, Liaohe-River Plain’, Chinese Journal of Environmental Sciences, No. 5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, J., Wei, F., Zheng, C. et al. Background concentrations of elements in soils of China. Water Air Soil Pollut 57, 699–712 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282934
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282934