Abstract:

【Objective】 This study was to systematically comprehend soil quality status and its spatial pattern in coastal saline reclamation region of north Jiangsu Province, and acquire management measures to improve soil fertility and quality and restrain soil salinity. 【Method】 With the application of fuzzy synthetic evaluation method and GIS technology, fuzzy synthetic evaluation and classification of regional soil quality was conducted, and spatial patterns of synthetic evaluation results of regional soil quality was obtained to provide a theoretical reference to scientific amelioration and field management of moderate-and-low-yield farmlands. 【Result】 The results indicated that soil quality status across the study area was generally low, soil organic matter (SOM) and N nutrient was in severe deficiency, and it is particularly the case for available N. Soil bulk density showed week variation and other evaluation indices all exhibited moderate variation. SOM was the most important evaluation factor of soil quality, while soil salinity and groundwater mineralization were limiting factors of soil quality. Soil quality status differed significantly at different parts of the study area, and the spatial pattern of soil quality was similar to that of SOM, while it was opposite to that of salinity. Soil quality in the cotton-growing field was superior to that in the rice-growing field generally. The area of moderate soil quality was the most in the study area, followed by that of low soil quality, and the area of high soil quality was the least. 【Conclusion】 The soil quality map can be used for the improvement of moderate-and-low-yield farmlands, comprehensive treatment and rational fertilization of saline-alkali soil in our study area. The field irrigation and drainage installations should be improved in the area of low soil quality, while agro-biological treatments should be employed in the area of moderate soil quality.

Key words: north Jiangsu Province, reclamation region, soil quality, fuzzy synthetic evaluation