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Spatial variability and temporal stability of apparent soil electrical conductivity in a Mediterranean pasture

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Abstract

The general objectives of this study were to evaluate (i) the specificity of the spatial and temporal dynamics of apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) measured by a electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor, over 7 years, in variable conditions (of soil moisture content (SMC), soil vegetation cover and grazing management) and, consequently, (ii) the potential for implementing site-specific management (SSM). The DUALEM 1S sensor was used to measure the ECa in a 6 ha pasture experimental field four times between June 2007 and February of 2013. Soil spatial variability was characterized by 76 samples, geo-referenced with the global positioning system (GPS). The soil was characterized in terms of texture, moisture content, pH, organic matter content, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This study shows a significant temporal stability of the ECa patterns under several conditions, behavior that is an excellent indicator of reliability of this tool to survey spatial soil variability and to delineate potential site-specific management zones (SSMZ). Significant correlations were obtained in this work between the ECa and relative field elevation, pH, silt and soil moisture content. These results open perspectives for using the EMI sensor as an indicator of SMC in irrigation management and of needs of limestone correction in Mediterranean pastures. However, it is interesting to extend the findings to other types of soil to verify the origin of the lack of correlation between the ECa data measured by DUALEM sensor and properties such as the clay, organic matter or phosphorus soil content, fundamental parameters for establishment of pasture SSM projects.

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Abbreviations

DHGN:

Dry soil, high and green vegetation, not grazed

DSDG:

Dry soil, small and dry vegetation, grazed by sheep

EMI:

Electromagnetic induction

HMZ:

Homogeneous management zones

PD:

Pseudo-dephts

RECa :

Relative apparent soil electrical conductivity

SMC:

Soil moisture content

SSM:

Site-specific management

SSMZ:

Site-specific management zones

WSGG:

Wet soil, small and green vegetation, grazed by cattle

WSGN:

Wet soil, small and green vegetation, not grazed

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by FEDER Funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors—COMPETE and National Funds through FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology under the Strategic Project PEst-C/AGR/UI0115/2011 and under the FCT project—EXCL_AGR-TEC_0336_2012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAAM, Departamento de Engenharia Rural, Universidade de Évora, P.O. Box 94, 7002-554, Évora, Portugal

    J. M. Serrano, S. Shahidian & J. Marques da Silva

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  1. J. M. Serrano
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  2. S. Shahidian
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  3. J. Marques da Silva
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Correspondence to J. M. Serrano.

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Serrano, J.M., Shahidian, S. & Marques da Silva, J. Spatial variability and temporal stability of apparent soil electrical conductivity in a Mediterranean pasture. Precision Agric 18, 245–263 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-016-9460-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-016-9460-y

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