Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of spatial variability and pattern analysis of soil properties in the northwest of Iran

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 26 May 2011

Abstract

Analysis of the spatial variability of soil properties is important to explain the site-specific ecosystems. Spatial patterns of some soil properties such as soil texture, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), electrical conductivity (ECe), soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were analyzed in salt and sodic affected soils in the south of the Ardabil province, in the northwest of Iran, to identify their spatial distribution for performance of a site-specific management. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90, 90 to 120 and 120 to 150 cm soil depths at sampling sites. Data were investigated both statistically and geostatistically on the basis of the semivariogram. The spatial distribution model and spatial dependence level varied in the study area. Among the considered parameters, maximum and minimum spatial variability were observed in EC and pH parameters, respectively. Soil properties showed moderate to strong spatial dependence, except for a few. ECe was strongly spatially dependent in the total soil depth and clay was strongly spatially dependent at the first depth. Sand and pH were moderately spatially dependent for three of the five depths. ESP was strongly spatially dependent and silt was moderate in the total soil depths, except at 90–120 cm depth. Furthermore, CEC had strong spatial dependence for three of the five depths. All geostatistical range values were >1,389 m in this study. It was concluded that the strong spatial dependency of soil properties would lead to extrinsic factors such as bedrock, agricultural pollution, drainage and ground water level.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adhikari K, Guadagnini A, Toth G, Hermann T (2009) Geostatistical Analysis of Surface Soil Texture from Zala County in Western Hungary. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Environment, Energy and Water in Nepal: Recent Researches and Direction for Future. pp 219–224

  • Ardahanlioglu I, Oztas T, Evren S, Yilmaz T, Yildirim ZN (2003) Spatial variability of exchangeable sodium, electrical conductivity, soil pH and boron content in salt- and sodium-affected areas of the Igdir plain (Turkey). J Arid Environ 54:495–503. doi:10.1006/jare.2002.1073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baalousha H (2010) Assessment of a groundwater quality monitoring network using vulnerability mapping and geostatistics: a case study from Heretaunga plains, New Zealand. Agric Water Manage 97:240–246. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2009.09.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brejda JJ, Moorman TB, Smith JL, Karlen DL, Allan DL, Dao TH (2000) Distribution and variability of surface soil properties at a regional scale. Soil Sci Soc Am J 64:974–982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burgess TM, Webster R (1980) Optimal interpolation and isorithmic mapping of soil properties. I. The semivariogram and punctual kriging. Soil Sci 31:315–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambardella CA, Karlen DL (1999) Spatial analysis of soil fertility parameters. Precis Agric 1:5–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambardella CA, Moorman TB, Novak JM, Parkin TB, Karlen DL, Turco RF, Konopka AE (1994) Field-scale variability of soil properties in central Iowa soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 58:1501–1511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cemek B, Güler M, Kiliç K, Demir Y, Arslan H (2007) Assessment of spatial variability in some soil properties as related to soil salinity and alkalinity in Bafra plain in northern Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 124:223–234. doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9220-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffera M, White JG, Weisz R (2007) Spatial variability of Southeastern US Coastal Plain soil physical properties: implications for site-specific management. Geoderma 137:327–339. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2006.08.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ersahin S (1999) Spatial variability of some physical and chemical soil properties in an alluvial field. S U J Agric Fac 13:34–41

    Google Scholar 

  • ESRI (2008) ArcGIS. Environmental System Research Institute, Redlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Gajem YM, Warrick AW, Myers DE (1981) Spatial structure of physical properties of a Typic Torrifluvent soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 45:709–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goovaerts P (2000) Geostatistical approaches for incorporating elevation into the spatial interpolation of rainfall. J Hydrol 228:113–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang X, Skidmore EL, Tibke G (1999) Spatial variability of soil properties along a transect of CRP and continuously cropped land. In: 10th International Soil Conservation Organization Meeting held, Purdue University and the USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, pp 641–647

  • Iqbal J, Thomasson JA, Jenkins JA, Owens PR, Whisler FD (2005) Spatial variability analysis of soil physical properties of alluvial soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 69:1338–1350. doi:10.2136/sssaj2004.0154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isaaks EH, Srivastava RM (1989) An introduction to applied geostatistics. Oxford Univ Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kachanoski RG, Gregorich EG, Van Wesenbeck IJ (1988) Estimating spatial variations of soil water content using non-containing electromagnetic inductive methods. Can J Soil Sci 68:715–722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiliç K, Kiliç S (2007) Spatial variability of salinity and alkalinity of a field having salination risk in semi-arid climate in northern Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 127:55–65. doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9258-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krasilnikov P, Carré F, Montanarella L (2008) Soil geography and geostatistics, concepts and applications. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Luxembourg

  • Lee BD, Graham RC, Laurent TE, Amrhein C, Creasy RM (2001) Spatial distributions of soil chemical conditions in a serpentinitic wetland and surrounding landscape. Soil Sci Soc Am J 65:1183–1196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu G, Yang X (2008) Spatial variability analysis of soil properties within a field. In: IFIP international federation for information processing. Vol 259: computer and computing technologies in agriculture. Vol 2; Daoliang Li; Springer Boston pp 1341–1344

  • Matheron G (1965) Les Variables Regionalisees et leur Estimation, Masson, Paris

  • McBratney AB, Webster R (1983) How many observations are needed for regional estimation of soil properties? Soil Sci 135(3):177–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLean EO (1982) Soil pH and lime requirement. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2—Chemical and microbiological properties, 2nd edn. Am Soc Agron, Madison, pp 199–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyamoto S, Chacon A (2005) Soil salinity of urban turf areas irrigated with saline water: I. Soil factors. Landsc Urban Plan 71:233–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman S, Reddy KR, DeBusk WF, Wang Y, Shih G, Fisher MM (1997) Spatial distribution of soil nutrients in a northern Everglades Marsh: water conservation area. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:1275–1283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oztas T (1993) Assessment of erosion rates and patterns from spatial variability of 137Cs activity. Ph.D. thesis, Nebraska University, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, 131 pp

  • Parkin TB (1993) Spatial variability of microbial processes in soil: a review. J Environ Qual 22:409–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao PSC, Wagenet RJ (1985) Spatial variability of pesticides in field soils: methods for data analysis and consequences. Weed Sci 33:18–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades JD (1982) Soluble salts. In: Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2: chemical and microbiological properties, 2nd edn. Am Soc Agron, Madison, pp 167–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades JD (1986) Cation exchange capacity. In: Francis CA et al. (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2, 2nd edn. Madison, WI, Agron Monogr 9, pp 149–158

  • Robertson GP, Gross CL (1994) Assessing the heterogeneity of belowground resources: quantifying pattern and scale. In: Caldwell MM, Pearcy RW (eds) Plant exploitation of environmental heterogeneity. Academic Press, New York, pp 237–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryel RJ, Caldwell MM, Manwaring JH (1996) Temporal dynamics of soil spatial heterogeneity in sagebrush–wheatgrass steppe during a growing season. Plant Soil 184:299–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samra JS, Sharma KNS, Tyaki NK (1988) Analysis of spatial variability in sodic soils. I. Structural analysis. Soil Sci 145:180–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SPSS (2000) SPSS for Windows. Student Version. Release 10.0.9. SPSS Inc., USA

  • Thomas GW (1982) Exchangeable cations. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part II. Chemical and microbiological properties. ASA-SSSA Madison, pp 159–165

  • Trangmar BB, Yost RS, Uehara G (1985) Application of geostatistics to spatial studies of soil properties. Adv Agron 38:45–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vieira SR, Hatfield JL, Nielsen DR, Biggar JW (1983) Geostatistical theory and application to some agronomic properties. Hilgardia 51:1–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster R (1985) Quantitative spatial analysis of soil in the field. Adv Soil Sci 3:1–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei YC, Bai YL, Jin JY, Zhang F, Zhang LP, Liu XQ (2009) Spatial variability of soil chemical properties in the reclaiming marine foreland to Yellow Sea of China. Agric Sci China 8(9):1103–1111

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilding LP (1985) Spatial variability: its documentation, accommodation, and implication to soil surveys. In: Nielsen DR, Bouma J (eds) Soil spatial variability. Pudoc, Wageningen, pp 166–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing-Yi Z, Yue-Yu S, Xu-Dong Z, Kai M, Herbert SJ (2007) Spatial variability of nutrient properties in black soil of northeast China. Pedosphere 17(1):19–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yates SR, Warrick AW, Matthias AD, Musil S (1988) Spatial variability of remotely sensed surface temperature at field scale. Soil Sci Soc Am J 52:40–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yost RS, Uehara G, Fox RL (1982) Geostatistical analysis of soil chemical properties of large land areas: I. Semivariograms. Soil Sci Soc Am J 46:1028–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Peth S, Krümmelbein J, Horn R, Wang Z, Steffens M, Hoffmann C, Peng X (2007) Spatial variability of soil properties affected by grazing intensity in inner Mongolia grassland. Ecol Model 205:241–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ardabil Jahad Agricultural Organization. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers whose suggestions significantly contributed to improve the work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, Zabol University, Zabol, Iran

    B. Shifteh Some’e, F. Hassanpour, A. Ezani & S. R. Miremadi

  2. Department of Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, 65174, Hamedan, Iran

    H. Tabari

Authors
  1. B. Shifteh Some’e
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Hassanpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Ezani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. R. Miremadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Tabari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Shifteh Some’e.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1093-x

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Some’e, B.S., Hassanpour, F., Ezani, A. et al. Investigation of spatial variability and pattern analysis of soil properties in the northwest of Iran. Environ Earth Sci 64, 1849–1864 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-0993-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-0993-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation