مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Assessment of Spatial Distribution of Some Soil Properties with Geostatistics Method

Abstract :

The objective of this study was to determine spatial variability of particle size distribution, organic matter and lime contents, pH and plant-available P content of soils located in the Experimental Station of Eastern Anatolia Agricultural Research Institution. The research area, about 100 ha, was divided into 100 m interval grids in the north to south and east to west directions, and 68 soil samples were collected from 0-20 cm depth at the corner of each grid. Isotropic-exponential semivariograms were fitted to explain spatial variability of clay and silt contents. Sand content andorganic matter were explained with isotropic Gaussian semivariograms and lime and pH with anisotropic spherical semivariogram. Block Kriging analysis, an advanced interpolation technique, was performed to prepare spatial distribution maps. The distribution patterns indicated that, clay content soils closer to the creek bed was the lowest within the research field, but sand content was higher closer to the creek bed. However, silt content showed unstable distribution patterns within study area. Distribution patterns of organic matter showed good agreement with crop type. While organic matter of soil was higher in cereal planted areas and lower in row-crop planted areas. The maximum values of soil lime content and soil pH were obtained at the areas away from the creek bed.