Estimating Paleo-vegetation Type in the Loess Plateau of China Using Carbon Isotope

摘要

Carbon isotopes in loess through S0 to S11 at Luochuan section in Shaanxi Province,China, were studied. The curve of δ13C compares well with that of an oxygen isotope in deep sea sediments from DSDP607 drill hole. There is a negative peak of δ13 C within Ss paleosol where the content of δ13C is - 16. 615‰, which shows that the climate of that period was optimum, and the vegetation was likely forest. Compared with the pollen analysis, we conclude that the vegetation type of palesol S0, S1, S4, S8, S9, whose δ13 C content was - 5.85‰ -- 10.00‰, was forest-grass. The δ13 C content of paleosol S2, S3, S6, S7 was - 8.72‰ -- 6.95‰, and their vegetation was grass. The loess layers L1, L2, L5, L6, L8 and L9 represent the severe cold-dry glacial period with δ13C content of -3.7‰ -- 2.27‰, and their vegetation belonged to steppe-desert. The research on paleo-vegetation type is significant for anti-soil erosion measures in the Loess Plateau of China.