The geochemical behaviour of elements in soils is closely related to their properties and soil development,as well as the bioclimatic condetion.And the contents of the elements in soil ate also related each othw.Ten major elements in soils were used for the principal component analysis in order to group the soils geochemically.On the basis of the principal component analysis,the soils of the tropical and subtropical China were distinguished in seven.types:the ferric.alditic,siferric,siallitic,quartzose-silicic,kamagnesian and the carbonated.The equation of principal component analysis was established for distinguishing soil E;eochemical type of a unknown soil.