Ma did a lot of pioneering work in soil classification in his early days. At that time, the modern pedology in China started soon, and although it made great progress in the world, it was still in the initial stage. Thanks to Ma's efforts, especially because he didn't avoid risks and obstacles, he conducted a lot of soil investigation and research, and found many unnamed soil types in the world, which laid the foundation for further research on soil.
Desert calcareous soil is one of the earliest soil types he proposed. According to the change of bio-climatic conditions and soil properties, he further divided brown desert calcareous soil and gray desert calcareous soil. The former represents extremely arid semi-desert soil, with no CaCO3 migration and 0.5% organic matter content. According to the characteristics of parent material and salinity, it is further distinguished. Then, he divided the soil into litter layer, dark humus layer, compact brown soil layer and calcium layer as independent soil types. Another soil name initiated by him is brown calcium soil, and its soil properties are between light chestnut soil and desert calcium soil. Its formation conditions, soil properties and agricultural utilization are obviously different from chestnut soil, which embodies the characteristics of the transition zone from grassland to desert.
As early as 1930s, Ma, Zhu Lianqing, Song Daquan, Hou Guangjiong and others studied paddy soil and purple soil. The light color layer in the formation of paddy soil is divided, and the particularity of paddy soil classification is pointed out. Paddy soil is divided into three subcategories: waterlogging, waterlogging and potential fertility. Purple soil is divided into three subcategories: acidic, neutral and calcareous.
After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), he improved the classification of China in the past and put forward many new names of soil types according to the theory of soil zonality and genetic principle of the Soviet Union. Such as grass soil in the northeast plain, gray forest soil in the piedmont area, brown desert soil and gray-brown desert soil in the northwest arid area, brown soil in North China, gray-cinnamon soil in the Loess Plateau, yellow-cinnamon soil in Central China, latosol in South China and alpine desert soil in the plateau area. The natural development law and genetic significance of each soil type are preliminarily clarified, which makes the soil classification in China completely on the road of classification.
On this basis, in 1959, he proposed the classification unit of soil classification in China, and suggested the principles and basis for its classification. The proposed scheme is divided into seven levels: soil class, subclass, soil class, subclass, soil class (soil genus), soil species and varieties, which stipulates the principles and basis for the division of each level. In the study of classification of cultivated soil, he thought it was necessary to carry out the viewpoint of genetics and study the formation conditions, formation process and special laws of soil characteristics of cultivated soil. He pointed out that under the influence of human activities, the synthesis and decomposition of organic matter and the movement and accumulation of minerals in the process of soil natural formation are changed by a series of ripening measures such as crop harvesting, tillage, fertilization and irrigation and drainage, so the ripening of soil formation is a special process of cultivating soil. However, different ripening processes lead to different characteristics of cultivated soil.
Explore the geographical distribution of soil in China.
In order to explore the geographical distribution of soil in China, Ma went through many hardships and made a lot of investigations and studies in plateau, frontier and hinterland. 1957, as a book laying the foundation of China's soil geographical distribution model and theory, The Law of Soil Geographical Distribution in China came out, which was his profound summary of the soil distribution characteristics in China and Eurasia based on China's rich soil resources and a large number of investigation and research data. In this paper, the concepts of horizontal distribution and vertical distribution were put forward at the sixth international conference on soil science. The model and characteristics of soil geographical distribution in China are put forward, which indicates that the study of soil geography in China has reached a new level and has been highly valued at home and abroad. In particular, he illustrated the structure model of soil cover distribution zone in Eurasia for the first time and profoundly revealed the geographical regularity of soil distribution. This highly theoretical generalization is cherished by the majority of soil workers. It still has important academic value.
Study on distribution characteristics of mountain soil
Ma has done a lot of research on the distribution characteristics of mountain soil, and established the vertical distribution law and vertical structure classification of soil cover in different horizontal zones in China. He pointed out that "the vertical zone of mountain soil (now called vertical zone) has similar characteristics to the horizontal zone (now called horizontal zone) to the north of the site, but because of the different topographic characteristics of mountains and plains, the water situation is very different from the vegetation community, the development and characteristics of soil are different, and the soil utilization is also different. In general, the vertical soil zones in the cold zone and the cold temperate zone are similar to the horizontal zones in the north, while the temperate zone is very different, and the subtropical zone and the tropical zone are almost completely different. " This understanding is 25 years earlier than that of Gerasimov of the former Soviet Union who divided mountain soil into three groups: homologous, similar and unique in his article Mountain Soil (1982), and Ma has a clearer understanding of the geographical significance of the two groups.
This paper introduces the geographical distribution law of mountain soil in China.
In the article "Geographical Distribution of Mountain Soils in China" published by 1963, he further divided the mountain soils in China into 36 species according to the geographical position, shape, trend and height of mountains, so as to reflect the differences of mountain soils in China, and at the same time made a vivid and unique classification of soil cover structure in the form of vertical band arrangement.
In order to objectively reflect the complex and diverse soil resources in China on small and medium-scale soil maps, Ma et al. creatively studied the complex soil areas and soil combinations. 1934, when he and Hou Guangjiong visited Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, they put forward the concept of soil compound area, which was named Soikarea at that time. When he compiled the Soil Map of the Yellow River Basin and the National Soil Zoning Map in the 1940s, he put forward the zoning system of soil bioclimate zone, soil sub-zone, soil composite zone and soil chain for the first time, which initiated the soil zoning work in China. Since then, Ma has participated in a series of soil regionalization studies, among which Principles of Soil Zoning for Agricultural Development published by 1958 and Soil Zoning in China published by 1959 (the first draft) are important works of Ma in soil regionalization research. The book is rigorous in reasoning and rich in data, which not only embodies the zonality theory in methodology, but also plays an important role in the formulation of national comprehensive natural zoning, national comprehensive agricultural zoning and agricultural development planning in the whole soil zoning and grading system. Ma has made outstanding contributions to the development of soil mapping research in China. He not only personally compiled a series of soil maps, but also had a far-reaching influence on soil mapping in China with the guiding ideology of combining scientific mapping with production mapping. He was one of the important founders of soil mapping in China.
As early as 194 1 year, he and Zhu Lianqing co-edited1/kloc-0 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 soil survey, which first drew alpine soil and marked paddy soil in parts of Huaihe River and Yangtze River basins with separate patches. 1949, on the basis of summarizing the previous data, he re-compiled the General Soil Map of China (1/80,000), and clearly divided 60 mapping units of soil regions and subregions. The soil profile of China is divided into soil regions according to biology, climate and soil types (equivalent to soil types), and sub-regions are divided according to different soil combinations in the soil regions. He combined soil zoning with soil types, and the mapping unit system has the pattern of zoning series, which is the embodiment of Maduo's multi-domain mapping thought. This map is the first complete soil map in China.
1955, in the "People's Republic of China (PRC)140,000 Soil Map" compiled by ипппппппппппппппппппп108 The layout of the legend system is also studied, so that the map can clearly reflect the zonality of various soil types and the distribution of concealed soil in China, and reflect the change from the general map with soil area and subregion as the mapping unit to the soil type map with occurrence type as the unit in China.
The1/40,000 China soil map (draft) compiled by Ma and He Jinhai in 1962 and the1/0,000 China soil map revised on this basis were formally incorporated into the National Natural Atlas in 1965, which is an important achievement of horse research and farming soil mapping. In the map, many types of dry farming soils are divided, which are represented by patches in form, and paddy soils in different areas are listed, thus establishing the status of cultivated soils in classification and mapping. Ma Rong Zhi has rich knowledge of geology and geography. He opened up the study of paleopedology, and used it to analyze the genetic types of Quaternary strata, paleogeographic environment and loess, one of the outstanding problems in Quaternary research, thus enriching the content of Quaternary research.
In his article "Some Opinions on the Genetic Types of Quaternary Strata and Quaternary Paleogeographic Environment in China", he pointed out that Quaternary geology is closely related to many disciplines, and it is necessary to comprehensively adopt the research methods and achievements of related disciplines to explore the genetic types of Quaternary strata in order to draw a comprehensive and correct conclusion. He stressed that the study of the lithology and genetic types of Quaternary sediments must take into account the role of soil formation process, because no matter what geological forces are generated, as long as they are exposed to the surface, they will be affected by various natural factors and form different soils. He cited a large number of data to repeatedly demonstrate that the lithology and genetic types of Quaternary sediments were deeply influenced by soil formation. For example, the shallow sea deposits along the coast of South China have developed to latosol stage, and the original marine accumulation characteristics have changed. Therefore, he suggested that the concept of pedology be introduced into the three-level classification system of genetic type group, genetic type and lithofacies.
Ma studied the paleosoil profile preserved in Quaternary strata, especially in soil sediments, and inferred the bioclimatic conditions during the formation of paleosoil, which played an important role in rebuilding the Quaternary paleogeographic environment. He pointed out that in the early Pleistocene, China had gradually formed natural zones, but the boundaries of these natural zones were different from those of modern times. According to latosol developed on tertiary basalt weathered bodies and shallow sea sediments in Hainan Island and Leizhou Peninsula, conglomerate, iron pot and hard rock reticulated laterite above Yining system in Guangxi, quaternary gravel layer (Baishajing system in Hunan) and reticulated laterite in Hunan and Jiangxi, and weathered crust containing iron ore on phyllite (Nanchang), gravel and laterite in Yuhuatai, Nanjing, gravel and laterite in Ya 'an, Chengdu, and laterite in Nanyang, Henan, etc. According to the distribution of Sanmen red soil (including ancient cinnamon soil profile), he proved that the north of the red soil belt at that time was temperate forest and xerophytic forest shrub brown soil and cinnamon soil belt. Because the paleosol profile in the lower part of Sanmen red soil is slightly red and the soil layer is thicker than that in the upper part, it is considered that the climate in this period may gradually evolve towards cold and dry direction. Similarly, he analyzed the physical and geographical environment of the late Pleistocene, and pointed out that the natural zone at that time was basically similar to that of modern times, but the modern climatic conditions showed signs of continuing to change to drought and cold.
Loess problem is one of the outstanding problems in Quaternary research in China. Ma has been investigating in the loess area for a long time and accumulated rich data. In his article The Formation of Loess in China, he put forward the view that the loess in China is of the same origin, and divided the late Pleistocene loess into Malan loess in North China, Xia Shu clay and Chengdu clay in Central China, and tuberculous loess in the transition zone between them. This transitional loess is distributed in central Shandong, northwest Hubei, southwest Henan, Hanzhong basin and Longnan mountainous area. Its climatic conditions and behaviors are between Malan loess, Xia Shu clay and Chengdu clay, and there are often reddish-brown layers and white calcium deposits rich in Alpinia officinarum, on which cinnamon soil and brown soil are developed, which is different from other loess areas. Ma's exposition not only enriches the content of loess research, but also has guiding significance for studying soil in humid and semi-humid areas of warm temperate zone.
Ma also discussed the causes of loess. He thinks that loess can be formed in the interglacial period in the west and northwest of China, on the plateau or mountain above 3000 meters above sea level. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, loess mainly comes from the high-pressure arid area of Mongolia and is carried by the wind. As far as mechanical composition is concerned, about 90% is blown from desert areas, and the rest comes from nearby glaciers. Ma witnessed the seriousness of soil erosion in China when conducting soil investigation in the loess plateau and other areas with serious soil erosion, so he attached great importance to the study of soil and water conservation. As early as 1940s, there was a special article calling for paying attention to soil and water conservation. He pointed out that "most plateau platforms are prone to drought and erosion, especially here. Therefore, soil and water conservation should be carried out as soon as possible, which can not only protect the soil and increase production, but also be the basic method to control the Yellow River. " At the same time, when he was working in the south, he also put forward the suggestion of protecting the original trees and replanting them as much as possible to protect the soil.
After the founding of New China, Malaysia actively promoted the study of soil and water conservation. The Soil Erosion Research Group was established by the Institute of Soil Research of China Academy of Sciences. Under his direct care, the localization research of soil erosion in China was carried out. From 65438 to 0950, he personally participated in the soil survey in northern Shaanxi organized by the Agriculture and Forestry Department of Northwest Military and Political Committee, which provided an important scientific basis for formulating the working principles of rational land use, soil and water conservation and sandstorm prevention in this area. From 65438 to 0955, he served as the captain of the comprehensive investigation team of water and soil conservation in the middle reaches of the Yellow River of China Academy of Sciences, and organized and led relevant scientific research institutes, production departments and colleges and universities inside and outside the institute to carry out agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, water, geology, geomorphology, soil, vegetation, geophysics and social economy. Focusing on water and soil conservation in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, he obtained a lot of scientific data, completed a series of water and soil conservation zoning and rational land utilization, so as to formulate a plan for radical treatment of the Yellow River.
Based on years of research and practical experience, Ma put forward a series of effective measures to improve soil, control water and maintain water and soil. He believes that one of the main reasons for soil erosion is to re-cultivate, neglect forestry and animal husbandry, and emphasize rational land use. He pointed out that the land use in the middle reaches of the Yellow River should conform to nature, and it should be suitable for agriculture and forestry. He suggested changing the agricultural system in northern Shaanxi and planting trees, grass and land according to local conditions. This view is completely in line with the strategic policy of "vigorously planting grass for afforestation, establishing a new artificial vegetation system, and building animal husbandry and forestry bases as soon as possible" put forward in the 1980s to change the face of the Loess Plateau.
In terms of governance measures, Ma advocates comprehensive governance. On the basis of summarizing the experience of soil and water conservation at home and abroad, he put forward the principle of combining soil, plants and engineering measures. Soil control is mainly to increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure and physical properties, thus improving soil infiltration capacity and water retention capacity; Plant management can be divided into farming, planting grass and afforestation. The suitable farming methods in loess area are rotation planting, strip planting and contour farming. Planting grass should not only protect slope with grass, but also cultivate permanent or rotating forage base, develop animal husbandry and conserve soil; Where farming and grazing are not suitable, afforestation should be vigorously carried out. At the same time, where engineering transformation is needed, engineering measures such as building terraces and dams should be supplemented.
Ma's research achievements in the field of soil and water conservation provide important scientific basis and academic viewpoints for river management and land improvement in China. The governance principle of "three combinations of soil, biology and engineering" put forward by him has been gradually put into practice in the loess plateau and the red soil hilly area in the south.
Ma devoted his whole life to the study of soil science in China. He has not only profound academic attainments, but also served as the leader of the institute (and the comprehensive examination meeting) for a long time. With its high generality and macroscopic comprehensive ability, it has made important contributions to the development of soil science and comprehensive scientific investigation planning in China. He also pays special attention to the training and education of young people and strives to bring up a new generation of rookies.