Spatial Variability of Some Chemical and Physical Soil Properties in Bandipora District of Lesser Himalayas
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Spatial Variability of Some Chemical and Physical Soil Properties in Bandipora District of Lesser Himalayas Mushtaq A. Wani1 • N. Shaista1 • Zahid M. Wani2
Received: 14 April 2015 / Accepted: 8 September 2016 Ó Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2016
Abstract Soil is a suitable place for vegetation and plant growth. When this valuable resource is not preserved, shortage of food, erosion and damage of natural resources will be respected. Soil is a heterogeneous, diverse and dynamic system and investigation of its temporal and spatial changes is essential. In this paper spatial variability of some chemical and physical soil were investigated. Three hundred fifty eight soil samples were collected by systematic sampling strategy at 20 cm depth on a regular grid spacing of 500 9 500 m2 under different vegetation cover and processed for analysis in the laboratory. Soil chemical and physical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available phosphorus, available nitrogen, available potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium and sodium were measured. After data normalization, classical statistical analysis was used to describe soil properties and geo-statistical analysis was used to illustrate spatial correlation of soil characteristics. By using interpolating techniques, spatial distribution of these properties were prepared. Results indicated that calcium and phosphorus had strong and weak spatial dependence, respectively. Keywords Spatial variability Chemical and physical properties Bandipora district soils
& Mushtaq A. Wani [email protected] 1
Division of Soil Science, S. K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, J&K 190025, India
2
Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok 12120, Thailand
Introduction The spatial variability and heterogeneous geographical distribution of physical and chemical properties of cropland ecosystem soils are under the impact of physical and biological factors including topography, vegetation cover, soil microclimate, various grazing systems and rangeland management. Soil properties change in time and space continuously (Rogerio et al. 2006). Heterogeneity may occur at large scale (region) or small scale (community), even in the same type of soil or in the same community (Du Feng et al. 2008). Despite temporal and spatial changes in soil characteristics at small and large scales, awareness of these changes related to increasing profitability and sustainable agriculture management is necessary (Ayoubi and Khormali 2009). Distribution of vegetation is related to soil moisture and other soil properties such as soil aeration, soil texture, depth etc. Soil properties in relation to vegetative cover cause plant diversity and widespread geographical distribution of plants (Noy-Mire 1973; Burke 2001). Soil compaction following extensive cultivation and use of tractors cause homogenous spatial distribution of soil properties and increa
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