Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 10.5
The sketch showing a
five-color “sacrificial
altar.” (From Gong,
1999. With permis-
Yan
Qing
Ji
Yong
Xu
Yu
Liang
Black soils
Jing
Yang
White
soils
Blue
soils
Yellow soils
0
50
0 km
Red soils
0 300 miles
Figure 10.4
Sketch map of the nine provinces of China (Yugong,
about 2500 B.P.) (Adapted from Lin, 1996. With per-
mission.)
Table 10.1
Distribution of Soils in the Nine Provinces of Ancient China
Description from Yugong (Lin,1996)
Province of
Ancient China
Corresponding Soils in
Chinese Soil Taxonomy
Soil
Color
Texture
Ji
Bai Rang
White
Loam
Halosols, Aquic Cambosols
Jing
Tu Ni
Grey
Loamy clay (clay)
Gleyosols with Ferrosols
Liang
Qing Li
Dark
Loamy clay
Aquic Cambosols and Gleyosols
Qing
Bai Fen, Hai
White
Clay loam
Argosols, Halosols
Bin Guan Chi
Xu
Chi Zhi Fen
Red
Loamy clay
Udic Argosols on limestone
Ya n
Hei Fen
Black
Clay loam
Vertosols, Argosols
Yang
Tu Ni
Grey
Loamy clay (clay)
Gleyosols with Ferrosols
Yong
Huang Rang
Yellow
Silty loam
Ustic Cambosols on loess
Yu
Rang, Fen Lu
Yellow
Loam
Ustic Argosols, Aquic
(black)
Cambosols and Vertosols
From Lin, 1996. With permission.
DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN SOIL CLASSIFICATION IN CHINA
Early Marbut System
China has a longstanding history and rich experience in soil classiÝcation, but the study of
modern soil classiÝcation only began in the 1930s. By combining the experience of MarbutÔs system
developed in the United States (Marbut, 1927) with that of the Chinese, the concept of Great Groups
was adopted, and more than 2,000 soil series were established. A comprehensive monographÐÑSoil
Geography of ChinaÒÐwas published to present a brief introduction to soils and their formation.
Because of poor working conditions, simple equipment, and only a few people involved in the Ýeld
of soil science before 1949, most of the work related to soil survey and soil mapping was done in
eastern China. Soil classiÝcation made much progress after 1949, when many soil resource inves-
tigations, watershed planning, and general detailed soil surveys on a large scale were carried out.
