Objective To investigate the differentiation characteristics of soil salinization under different land use types in the desert-oasis ecotone of the Hexi Corridor and address gaps in systematic research in this field, thereby providing a scientific basis for identifying optimal salt-suppression and alkali-reduction management practices, as well as for the improvement and sustainable utilization of marginal land. Methods Field survey sampling and laboratory analysis were integrated to measure soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total salt concentration (TSC), total alkalinity (TA), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and the composition of water-soluble salt ions in the 0-20 cm soil layer under four land use types (unused land, grassland, cropland, and forest land). Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis were applied to these indicators. Results 1) The average soil pH in the study area was 8.69, indicating overall alkalinity with low variability (coefficient of variation, CV<10%). TSC across land uses followed the order: unused land (3.52 g/kg)>grassland (2.34 g/kg)>cropland (1.27 g/kg)>forest land (1.14 g/kg), showing moderate variability (10%<CV<100%). ESP and EC both followed the trend: unused land>grassland>forest land>cropland. 2) Among salt ions, Na+ was the dominant cation across all land uses, accounting for 88.06%—93.30% of total cations. Cl⁻ was the primary anion (44.22%—51.75% of total anions), except in cropland, where SO42- dominated (48.58%). All ions except HCO3⁻ showed moderate variability (10%<CV<100%), resulting in a high degree of spatial heterogeneity in their distribution. 3) TSC exhibited extremely significant positive correlations (p<0.01) with all major salt ions except HCO₃⁻, while TA showed an extremely significant positive correlation with HCO3- (p<0.01). TSC, TA, Ca2+, SO42-, Mg2+, Na+, HCO3⁻, and pH were identified as characteristic factors of soil salinity-alkalinity status. Conclusion Under the combined influences of natural and anthropogenic factors, soil salinization characteristics vary significantly across different land use types. Unused land had significantly higher values of TSC, ESP, EC, and other salinization indicators compared to other land use types, indicating more severe salinization. In contrast, lands under frequent human management (grassland, cropland, forest land) show relatively milder salinization. The findings provide a scientific basis for the sustainable utilization and management planning of marginal land in the Hexi Corridor.
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