Chronosequence of pedogenesis and Quaternary Paleoenvironment in Kunming Basin, Yunnan Province, China

Abstract

Abstract Soils on the terrace groups along the eastern coast of Dianchi Lake located south of Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, consist of a series of chronose-quences reflecting the age of terrace formation and environmental changes since the early Pleistocene. Red-colored soils with reticulated mottlings on the higher terraces are classified as Argillic Latored soils, corresponding to Rhodic Nitisols (FAQ-Unesco) or Rhodic Kandiudults (USDA), whereas red-colored soils on the middle terraces are classified as Agric Red soils, corresponding to Rhodic Nitisols (FAO-Unesco) or Typic Rhodudalfs (USDA). On the other hand, soils on the lower terraces are classified as Haplic Yellow-brown soils, corresponding to Eutric Cambisols (FAO-Unesco) or Dystric Eutrochrepts (USDA). The Argillic Latored soils. Agric Red soils and Haplic Yellow-brown soils date back to the middle Pleistocene, late Pleistocene and Holocene, respectively. It is also possible that the Argillic Latored soils were formed under a subtropical monsoon forest climate, the Agric Red soils under a southern warm-temperate lucidophyllus forest climate, and the Haplic Yellow-brown soils under the present northern warm-temperate deciduous broadleaved forest climate.