Study On Spatial Variability Of The Soils In Shandong Province Based On Pedodiversity Approach

Pedodiversity is a new theory and method based on biodiversity conception in ecology but applied to non-renewable non-biological resource that was developed since the 1990s.This paper applied pedodiversity analytical theory and method to analyze the Spatial Variability of the Soils developed on different parent materials and terrains, the data source is 1:1,000,000 scale soil and terrain digital database (SOTER) of Shandong Province, China. Richness index, evenness index and diversity index were selected as indicators of pedodiversity. Here we used Shannon index (H') as diversity index and Pielou index (E) as evenness index. H' was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener Formula:H' = ﹣Pi㏑PiE was calculated using the Pielou's evenness index E:E = H'／Hmax = H'／㏑SThe results showed that diversity index on different parent materials varied between 0.49 to 1.02, the different parent materials followed the sequence of igneous rock > sedimentary rock > metamorphic rock > unconsolidated material; The evenness index on different parent materials varied between 0.27 to 0.64,the parent materials followed the sequence of igneous rock > sedimentary rock > metamorphic rock > unconsolidated material. Diversity index on different terrain varied between 0.28 to 1.75, the terrain followed the sequence of level land-plain > sloping land-medium-gradient mountain > sloping land-medium-gradient hill > level land-valley floor > sloping land-medium-gradient escarpment zone > level land-depression > steep land-high-gradient mountain; the evenness index on different terrain varied between0.26 to 0.84, the terrain followed the sequence of sloping land-medium-gradient mountain > level land-plain > level land-valley floor > sloping land-medium-gradient hill > sloping land-medium-gradient escarpment zone > level land-depression . The distributions of soil groups relative abundance developed on different parent materials and terrain were set up on the basis of statistical and calculated results, found they both match the logarithmic normal distribution where soils with intermediate abundance are most common. Moreover they are applied to explain soils distributions. Lastly, geography information system (GIS) mapping to show Spatial Variability of the Soils digitally developed on different parent materials and terrains.