Distributive tendency of element concentrations in limestone soils in eastern China

Abstract

Twenty-eight soil profiles studied were collected from the eastern China. They belong to brown soil, drab soil, yellow brown soil, brown limestone soil and red limestone soil. The concentrations of Ca and Mg in soils decrease and the concentrations of Fe,Al,Zn,Pb,Cd, and Hg increase from north to south. There is no significant correlation between the element concentrations and soil organic matter contents. Statistically there is a most significant positive correlation between the concentrations of Ca and Mg, and pH, while there is a most significant negative correlation between the concentrations of Fe, Zn and Cd, and pH, and a significant negative correlation between Al concentration and pH. There is a most significant negative correlation between concentrations of Ca and Mg, and clay content, and a most significant positive correlation between Fe,Al,Pb,Cd,Hg and clay content. The concentrations of Ca and Mg decrease, and those of Fe,Al,Zn,Pb,Cd and Hg increase in the processes of acidification and clayization with the increase in temperature and rainfall.