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This dissertation, Characteristics and Genesis of Soils in Hong Kong's Fung Shui Woodlands by Wing-ho, Michael, Chan, 陳永浩, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract of the thesis entitled CHARACTERISTICS AND GENESIS OF SOILS IN HONG KONG'S FUNG SHUI WOODLANDS Submitted by Chan Wing Ho, Michael For the degree of Master of Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong in December 2000 Fung Shui is a common belief among Chinese since time immemorial. Fung Shui woodland is an important translation of the traditional belief into practical measures. They are customarily located at the back of the village, serving as a protective shield to ward off evil spirits. Fung Shui woodlands also preserve ecological attributes such as biomass structure, vegetation composition and soils. They contain some of the oldest trees and undisturbed soils in the territory. Researches of Fung Shui woodlands conducted in the past concentrated on vegetation floristries and structure, with scant study of soil as a pertinent ecosystem component. This research is aimed to characterize Fung Shui woodland soils, and to elucidate the factors and processes of soil formation in relation to the landform, vegetation, geological background, and the human activities. Nine woodland sites, according to their vegetation, geology, topography, and nearby human activities, were studied. Two to three pits were dug in each woodland, and sixty-eight soil samples were collected. iiVarious tests on soil physical and chemical properties were then conducted. Fung Shui woodland soils have typical Oxisol properties. The soils examined had developed under a regime of strong weathering and leaching, in the hot-humid and free draining environment. They were pedologically mature, with deep profile, strong micro- but weak macro-structure, chemically active and had the characteristic oxic horizon - a major differentiating characteristics of the Oxisol order. Five types of human degradations, namely, orchard plantation, farmland conservation, land clearing, hill fire, and urban park conservation, were studied, and these activities had significantly affected the soil development in Fung Shui woodlands. In disturbed woodlands, erosion and surface runoff were more intense, and the soils had coarser texture, and were generally less fertile than the less disturbed woodland soils. Soil exchangeable bases and pH were increased after hill fire. Urban park conservation also induced increase in soil pH. Overall, Fung Shui woodlands provided good protection to soil forming factors and processes, with their spiritual status and luxuriant-complex tree coverage. They minimized human degradations and natural denudation processes, and helped to preserve isolated remnant pockets of original soils in the otherwise pervasively disturbed landscape in Hong Kong. iii DOI: 10.5353/th_b2975816 Subjects: Soil physics - China - Hong Kong - Case studiesSoil chemistry - China - Hong Kong - Case studiesForests and forestry - China - Hong Kong - Case studiesFeng shui - China - Hong Kong - Case studies

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