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Temporal–spatial variability of soil fertility in karst region: a case study of Xiaojiang watershed Yunnan

Environmental Geology

Abstract

By sampling in the field and analyzing the soil samples in the laboratory in 1982 and 2005 the soil fertility data were obtained. Through application of geo-statistics combined with GIS, the temporal–spatial variability of the pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium in soil of Xiaojiang watershed from 1982 to 2005 were analyzed. Results showed that: (1) the pH value and total potassium in soil showed an increasing trend, but the organic matter, total nitrogen and the total phosphorus in soil declined in the past 20 years in Xiaojiang watershed, (2) the parameters fitted by semivariogram models for fertility indices changed significantly in the past 20 years and (3) the result estimated by ordinary Kriging indicated the spatial pattern of the soil fertility indices changed significantly in the past 20 years. The soil pH increased in the east and southeast, but decreased in the middle of the watershed. The organic content of the soil matter decreased in the east, southeast and southwest, but increased in the northeast and middle of the watershed. The total nitrogen content of the soil decreased in the east, but increased in the middle of watershed. The total phosphorus content of the soil decreased in the whole watershed. The total potassium content of the soil increased in the southwest and southeast, but decreased in the middle of the watershed and (4) the change of land use and soil management measures was the main driving force of variability of soil properties.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the doctorate foundation of Southwest University, China, project code SWNUB2005035; the National Natural Science Foundation, China, project code 40672165; the Foundation of Science and Technology of Ministry, China, project code 2006BAC01A16; and the physical geography doctorate program open foundation of Southwest University China, project code 250-411109.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Yongjun Jiang, Linli Li, Yuexia Wu, Yanan Jia & Daoxian Yuan

  2. Institute of Karst Environment and Rock Desertification Rehabilitation, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Yongjun Jiang, Linli Li, Yuexia Wu, Yanan Jia & Daoxian Yuan

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  1. Yongjun Jiang
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  2. Linli Li
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  3. Yuexia Wu
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  4. Yanan Jia
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  5. Daoxian Yuan
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Correspondence to Yongjun Jiang.

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Jiang, Y., Li, L., Wu, Y. et al. Temporal–spatial variability of soil fertility in karst region: a case study of Xiaojiang watershed Yunnan. Environ Geol 55, 875–887 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1039-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1039-5

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