Integrating GEO-Spatial Techniques for Reflecting Micro-Nutrients and Sulfur Variations and Spatial Distribution to Support Farm Management Practices

Abstract

To understand the spatial dependency of available sulphur and micronutrients in an experimental farm, 83 soil samples (surface and subsurface) were taken from Agricultural College, Killikulam to characterize the spatial variability of available Sulphur and micronutrients. The geostatistics and geographic information system (GIS) techniques were applied. With the help of geostatistical analyst of ArcGIS software kriged map of different soil parameters were prepared. Available S, Fe, Cu and Zn were fitted with a spherical model and that available Mn was fitted with an exponential model. Soil available Cu had strong spatial dependence with a range of 3.62 km. Available Fe, Zn and Mn had moderate spatial dependence with a range of 9.47 km, 5.61 km and 2.70 km, respectively. Available sulphur had weak spatial dependence with a range of 6.86 km. The spatial distribution of the available sulphur and micronutrients were significantly correlated to the soil formation factors. Agricultural practices such as application of fertilizers and pesticides also had significant effects on the spatial distributions of the available micro-nutrients and sulfur.