PEARL RIVER DELTA REGION CULTIVATED LAND QUALITY EVALUATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37406/2706-9052-2025-4.1Keywords:
Pearl River Delta, Cultivated Land Quality, Soil Fertility Evaluation, Nutrient Grading, Comprehensive Fertility Index, Limiting FactorAbstract
Cultivated land is vital for China's food security. Its protection is a fundamental national policy, crucial for rural revitalization and the «storing grain in the land and technology» strategy. Amidst urbanization, maintaining the quantity and quality of cultivated land is challenging. This is particularly critical in the economically developed Pearl River Delta (PRD), where systematic soil fertility evaluations are scarce. This study assesses the soil quality of plain cultivated land in Foshan and Shenzhen, PRD, to support developing a regional evaluation framework. The area has a subtropical monsoon climate and paddy soil. Four composite topsoil (0–20 cm) samples (SZA-SZD) were collected and analyzed for pH, organic matter, N, P, K, CEC, and mechanical composition. Soil nutrient grading (based on national standards) and a comprehensive fertility index (Pc, per NY/T 1749-2009) were used. The Pc classifies fertility as Grade I (Pc>1.7, high), II (0.9≤Pc≤1.7, medium), or III (Pc<0.9, low). Results indicated that soil texture (medium loam) and pH (slightly alkaline) were suitable. Organic matter, available P, total K, and available K were at high levels; total P and CEC were medium. However, total and alkali-hydrolyzable N were low, identifying N as the primary limiting factor. The Pc values for all samples (1.09, 1.08, 1.03, 0.94) fell within Grade II, confirming an overall medium fertility level. In conclusion, while the PRD cultivated land has a generally medium fertility base, significant nitrogen deficiency is the key constraint. Targeted nitrogen fertilization is essential to improve crop yields and ensure sustainable land use. This study provides a basis for tailored soil management strategies in the region.
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