ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the current conditions of soil resources in China. It provides an overview of Chinese soil quality standards and the classification, degree, and distribution of soil pollution and soil degradation in China. The chapter describes the classification of China's soil quality, the standards of soil pollution and degradation, and the amount and spatial distribution of soil pollution and degradation. The term 'soil quality' refers, generally speaking, to the capacity of soils to hold and release carbon by transforming organic matter, eliminating the pollutants in water, and supplying plant nutrients and water to support plant growth. China's soil problems are complicated, as there are many reasons for the low quality of farmland in the country. Soil, like air and water, is the source of all life on earth, and the major source of food for human beings. It is a vital resource which supports the existence, security, prosperity, and sustainable development of a country.
