The availability of trace elements in an oasis soil under different utilization intensity in an arid area in China

Abstract

Trace elements are important components of soil and their characterization is necessary for determining soil quality. Farming practices can change soil properties, thereby altering the effectiveness of the soil trace elements present. Soil trace element research in extremely arid regions, aiming at the determining effects of different land uses, has received little attention until now. The Cele Oasis (80°03′24″ 82°10′34″E, 35°17′55″ 39°30′00″N) located on the southern margin of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China, was selected as a study area. Agriculture is the main land use here; however, management intensities differ across the oasis and as the oasis area has grown. In 2005, four experimental fields were selected, representing typical land use types according to local tillage practices. These were newly cultivated, fertilized land (NEF) , a field receiving a normal manure application rate (NMF) , a field receiving a high manure application rate (HMF) and a field in the Oasis interior (OIF). A single index (E i) and integral index (E c) were calculated to evaluate