Analysis of Soil Properties Under Different Landforms and Vegetation in Liangucheng National Reserve in Minqin, China

In order to correctly evaluate the soil conditions in arid areas and facilitate the sustainable management of the land. Our research was performed at the Liangucheng National Reserve in Minqin, Gansu province, China. We examined soil physical and chemical properties of different landforms and vegetation. The results showed that the soil conditions in the reserve are poor and water and nutrient content are low. The ranges of the values of soil properties in the reserve were very small. Among the plant communities, soil conditions in the area where Zygophyllum xanthoxylon and Potaninia mongolica were located were the best. The communities of Haloxylon ammodendron, Nitraria tangutorum, Artemisia desertorum, and Caragana korshinskii showed the strongest adaptability to the environment of the reserve. Among these geomorphic types, desert bottomland landforms had the best soil conditions, with low salt content, high soil moisture, and good nutrient conditions, and the content of organic matter and other soil properties there was high.