Abstract
Spatial patterns for seven soil chemical properties and textures were examined in two fields in southern Spain (Monclova and Caracol, province of Seville, Andalusia) in order to identify their spatial distribution for the implementation of a site-specific fertilization practice. Two sampling grids of 35×20 and 35×35 m were established in Caracol and Monclova, respectively. Fourteen and eight georeferenced soil samples per hectare were collected at two depths (0–0.1 and 0.25–0.35 m) in early November 1998 before fertilizing and planting the winter crop. Data were analyzed both statistically and geostatistically on the basis of the semivariogram. The spatial distribution model and spatial dependence level varied both between and within locations. Some of the soil properties showed lack of spatial dependence at both depths and at the chosen interval (lag h). Such was the case for clay, organic matter and NH4 at Monclova; and clay and NH4 at Caracol. Bray P and exchangeable K showed a strong patchy distribution at any field and depth. It is important to know the spatial dependence of soil parameters, as management parameters with strong spatial dependence (patchy distribution) will be more readily managed and an accurate site-specific fertilization scheme for precision farming more easily developed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blackmore S, Godwin R J, Taylor J C, Cosser N D, Wood G A, Earl R and Knight S 1998 Understanding variability in four fields in the United Kingdom. In Proc. of the 4th International Conference on Precision Agriculture. Ed. P C Robert, R H Rust and W Larson. pp. 3-18. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.
Birrell S J, Sudduth K A and Kitchen N R 1996 Nutrient mapping implications of short-range variability. In Proc. of the 3rd International Conference on Precision Agriculture. Eds. P C Roberts, R H Rust and W E Larson. pp. 206-216. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.
Cambardella C A and Karlen D K 1999 Spatial analysis of soil fertility parameters. Precision Agric. 1, 5-14.
Cambardella C A, Moorman T B, Novak J M, Parkin T B, Karlen D K, Turco R F and Konopka A E 1994 Field-scale variability of soil properties in central Iowa soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58, 1501-1511.
Domsch H and Wendroth O 1997 On-site diagnosis of soil structure for site specific management. In Proc. of the 1st European Conference on Precision Agriculture. Ed. J V Stafford. pp. 95-102. BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd, Warwick, UK.
Geypens M, Vanongeval L, Vogels N and Meykens J 1999 Spatial variability of agricultural soil fertility parameters in a Gleyic Podzol of Belgium. Precision Agric. 1, 319-326.
Goovaerts P 1997 Geostatistics for Natural Resources Evaluation. Oxford University Press, New York: 483 p.
Heisel T, Ersbøll A K and Andersen C 1999 Weed mapping with co-kriging using soil properties. Precision Agric. 1, 39-52.
Hevesi J A, Istok J D and Flint A L 1992 Precipitation estimation in mountain terrain using multivariate geostatistics. Part I: structural analysis. J. Appl. Meteorol. 31, 661-676.
Isaaks E H and Srivastava R M 1989 An Introduction to Applied Geostatistics. Oxford University Press, New York: 561 p.
Journel A G and Huijbregts C J 1978 Mining Geostatistics. Academic Press. London. 600 pp.
Lechowicz M J and Bell G 1991 The ecology and genetics of fitness in forest plants. II. Microspatial heterogeneity of the edaphic environment. J. Ecol. 79, 687-696.
Mallarino A P, Oyarzabal E S and Hinz P N 1999 Interpreting within-field relationships between crop yields and soil and plant variables using factor analysis. Precision Agric. 1, 15-26.
McBratney A B and Pringle M J 1999 Estimating average and proportional variograms of soil properties and their potential use in precision agriculture. Precision Agric. 1, 125-152.
NRC (National Reserach Council) 1999 Precision Agriculture in the 21st century. National Academy Press, Washington, DC: 149 p.
Pierce F J and Nowak P 1999 Aspects of Precision Agriculture. Adv. Agron. 67, 1-85.
Robertson G P, Klingensmith K M, Klug M J Paul E A, Crum J R and Ellis B G 1997 Soil resources, microbial activity, and primary production across an agricultural ecosystem. Ecol. Appl. 7, 158-170.
Rossi R E, Mulla D J, Journel A G and Franz E H 1992 Geostatistical tool for modelling and interpreting ecological spatial dependence. Ecol. Monogr. 62, 277-314.
Samper-Calvete F J and Carrera-Ramírez J 1996 Geostadística. Aplicaciones a la hidrología subterránea. Centro Internacional de Métodos Numéricos en Ingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, España, 484 pp.
Tyler S S 1993 Positioning technology (GPS). In Soil Specific Crop Management. Ed P C Roberts, R H Rust and W E Larson. pp 159-165. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison, WI.
USDA (1975). Soil Taxonomy. Soil Conservation Service-USDA, Agricultural Handbook, pp. 436.
Verhagen J 1997 Modeling soil and crop responses in a spatially variable field. In Proc. of the 1st European Conference on Precision Agriculture. Ed. J V Stafford. pp. 197-204. BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd, Warwick, UK.
Webster R and Oliver M A 1992 Sample adequately to estimate variograms of soil properties. J. Soil Sci. 43, 177-192.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
López-Granados, F., Jurado-Expósito, M., Atenciano, S. et al. Spatial variability of agricultural soil parameters in southern Spain. Plant and Soil 246, 97–105 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021568415380
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021568415380