The State Council, China's cabinet, has decided to conduct the third national soil condition census from 2022 to 2025, according to a circular released Wednesday.

The census aims to find out soil types and distribution around the country, as well as current status and changing trends of soil resources, while acquiring basic data such as soil quality, properties and utilization status, in order to improve protection and utilization of soil resources.

The census will target soil of arable land, garden plot, forest land, grassland and other agricultural lands around the country including some unused land, the circular noted.

It added that the census on saline-alkali soil will be completed in 2022, and from 2023 to 2024, field survey sampling and interior testing are expected to be concluded.

In the first half of 2025, the census data will be sorted and reviewed, and in the second half, a report on national arable land quality and an evaluation report on national soil utilization suitability will be prepared, according to the circular.