Quality assessment of erosion soil on hilly Loess Plateau

Through establishing single factor and integrated assessment models, suitable assessment method for erosion soil quality on hilly Loess Plateau was selected. Quantitative assessments of soil qualities in different land utilization types was also performed in this paper. The results showed that soil quality evaluation with weighted integrated method could preferably reflect the actual situation of assessed soils and effects the variation of land utilization on soil quality (sensitively.) The 8 simple soil quality indicators screened out by factor analysis reflected the information of 29 soil (integrate) assessment indicates well and results of assessment be of high representative. Furthermore, the criteria of (classification) for erosion soil quality were studied out. Soil quality of research area was classified into 5 grades. The (research) results also (indicated) that soil quality on the hilly Loess plateau was significantly different due to different land utilization types. Soil quality in natural forestland was the best and was classified into should belong to grade 1. Soil quality in natural shrub land and green house was classified into grade 2. The next one was natural grassland and its soil quality grade was 3. Soil quality in planted woodland and shrub land was close to grade 3. Planted grassland, revegetated grassland, cropland and orchard had a soil quality of grade 4.