Abstract: Preliminary results from the soil survey conducted in 1997 and 1998 showed that the soils in the Xizhuang watershed, near Baoshan, are generally poor in available phosphorus, have a low pH range, and are deficient in exchangeable cations. Only the soils originated from limestone have adequate pH and cation concentrations. Organic carbon contents are generally higher than in most other Himalayan watersheds and the presence of limestone and the elevation effect are key factors responsible for conserving soil carbon concentrations. A brief description of the biophysical setting is provided and the key factors that influence soil fertility-elevation, parent materials, and land use are identified.

Key words: Soil micro-arthropod, Community structure, Bio-indicator, Land utilization, Lower Reaches of Liaohe Plain