Why is organic material scarce in Kunlun Mountain soils?

The scarcity of organic material in the soils of the Kunlun Mountains is primarily a result of the region's extreme environmental conditions. The mountain system is characterized by significant aridity, as it is largely isolated from the moisture-bearing monsoons of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

This lack of precipitation, combined with intense continental air mass influence, creates a harsh climate that limits biological productivity. The resulting soil zonation is simple, consisting mainly of alpine steppe and desert soils that naturally contain low levels of organic matter. Furthermore, the high-elevation zones experience sharp daily temperature fluctuations, leading to intense weathering from heat and frost. This process produces vast quantities of loose, inorganic material that further dilutes the presence of organic content in the soil.12