Spatial variability characteristics of the soil bulk density in the dry hot valley of Sichuan-Yunnan region: Taking Chuxiong area in Central Yunnan as an example

Soil bulk density is one of the most important properties of soil, and it is an important parameter for vegetation restoration, ecological restoration and estimation of soil organic carbon storage. The typical dry hot valley climate and non-dry hot valley climate formed for the special geographical location and the unique combination of topography and geomorphology in the northern Chuxiong area of Central Yunnan, providing an excellent natural condition for influencing factors investigation of soil bulk density. The soil bulk density characteristics and spatial distribution were investigated by systematical field measurement and bulk-density transfer function using geostatistics methods. The result show that the soil bulk density in the dry hot valley was high, and the orchard had the greatest influence on the soil bulk density. And the dry laterite had the highest bulk density and contribution of organic carbon in the bulk-density transfer function was the largest. This research could provide some basic data and theoretical support for the ecological protection and restoration, and the estimation of soil carbon storage in the dry hot valley.