Change in soil physical and chemical property in the Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt under saline water drip-irrigation

The physical and chemical properties of drip-irrigated aeolian soil with highly saline groundwater in the shelterbelt along the Tarim Desert Highway were investigated. The results show that surface layer litter quantity increases with shelterbelt age. Soil compactness in crust, 0~5 cm, 5~15 cm and 15~30 cm soil layers also decreases with shelterbelt age. Soil organic matter content increases with the shelterbelt age, and on the other hand, gradually reduces from the top to deeper layer of the soil profile. Total salt content decreases with both shelterbelt age and soil depth. Individual ions content in crust layer decreases, that in 0~5 cm, 5~15 cm and 15~30 cm soil layers increases with shelterbelt age. Soil pH in crust, 5~15 cm and 15~30 cm layers decreases with shelterbelt age, while that in 0~5 cm soil layer increases with shelterbelt age.