Soil Property Responses to Agricultural Management in the Hetao Plain and Yellow River Floodplain, China

Insufficient information is available regarding how land management categories influence soil properties in the Hetao Plain (HPYR) and the floodplain of the Yellow River (FPYR), two major agricultural regions of the Yellow River Basin located in arid to semi-arid and warm-temperate monsoon climatic zones, respectively. This study aimed to elucidate the chemical properties of cultivated land soils across the Yellow River agricultural zones. Soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), pH, and selected physical properties were quantified together with their associations with soil type, crop rotation, irrigation, and tillage. Marked differences in chemical properties were observed between the two regions. FPYR soils showed higher SOM and TN levels and lower pH than HPYR soils. The coefficient of variation in SOM was substantially greater in the HPYR than that in the FPYR, indicating stronger heterogeneity in the arid region. Semivariogram analysis revealed that TN exhibited significant positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I = 0.511, p < 0.05) in the HPYR. Thus, soil properties in the Yellow River Basin reflect the combined influence of regional environmental context and local management practices. This observational study may inform region-specific management strategies that can improve soil quality and nutrient balance.