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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (7): 54-68.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2024335

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Soil pH distribution characteristics and environmental factors influencing it in sandy desert grassland in the Junggar Basin

Yi-sheng JING1(), Zong-jiu SUN1,2,3(), Hui-xia LIU1, Didaer·Bisulidan1, Mei-sha LI1, Chen-ye ZHOU1, Lei ZHOU1, Bing-jie YU1, You-zheng LI1, Li ZHENG1, Asitaiken·Julihaiti1   

  1. 1.College of Grassland Science,Xinjiang Agricultural University,Urumqi 830052,China
    2.Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology,Urumqi 830052,China
    3.Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Western Arid Region,Ministry of Education,Urumqi 830052,China
  • Received:2024-08-28 Revised:2024-11-14 Online:2025-07-20 Published:2025-05-12
  • Contact: Zong-jiu SUN

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to explore the distribution characteristics of soil pH and the factors affecting it in sandy desert grassland in the Junggar Basin. First, 136 sample plots were selected and established by a route survey combined with a typical sample plot layout, and the pH of soil samples collected from 0 to 100 cm depth in each plot was measured. Environmental factors such as temperature, vegetation cover, and species richness were determined, and meteorological data were collected. The factors affecting the spatial variation of soil pH were explored on the basis of the environmental and meteorological data and “3S” technology, using one-way ANOVA, geostatistical analysis, and geographical detectors drawing on a range of remote sensing data and analytical tools. The results showed the range of soil pH in each soil layer from 0 to 100 cm was 8.54-8.76, and the average value was 8.66. The soil pH showed an upward trend as the soil depth increased. The soil pH of the small arbor group (8.71) was 1.02 times that of the shrub group (8.54) and 1.01 times that of the subshrub group (8.59) (P<0.05). Analyses of soil pH distribution showed that alkaline soil (pH 7.5-8.5) was mainly distributed in the northern part of Jimunai County, the southern part of Fuhai County, and the northern part of Karamay City around the Junggar Basi, and strongly alkaline soil (pH>8.5) was mainly distributed in Fukang City, Hutubi County, Manas County, Fuyun County, and other areas. Semi-variance variation analysis showed that the nugget effect of the optimal model of soil pH in the 0-100 cm soil layer was 49.91%, indicating that its spatial variation was affected by both structural factors and random factors. Geographic detector analysis showed that the main environmental factors contributing to the spatial variation of soil pH were mean average temperature (0.159), vegetation coverage (0.152), snow water equivalent (0.085), root soil moisture (0.076), and species richness index (0.066). The results of this study add new information about the distribution of soil pH to the database for sandy desert grassland in Junggar Basin, and reveal the main factors contributing to variations in soil pH. These findings provide a theoretical basis for sandy desert management and ecological restoration.

Key words: soil pH, spatial distribution, sandy desert meadows, Junggar Basin, geographical detectors