Methodological approaches to constructing 3D models of soil in potato farming

Abstract

Uniformity of potato tubers for a number of parameters (size, form, composition) is an important quality indicator of potato as marketable products. In production, this issue is resolved by selecting a variety. Conditions for a good plant development are primarily provision with nutrition, optimal moisture, soil density, microbiological activity. This study generalizes research in 3D organization of soddy podsols on the basis of spatial variation in fertility, moisture, density, hardness, microbiological activity and provides methodological approaches to preparing design specification for creation of functional spatial model of soil for potato growing using the methods of 3D geostatistics. A methodology has been developed for constructing a multilayer functional spatial soil model using the methods of 3D geostatistics for fertility, moisture, density, hardness, biological activity of the soil. The research showed a high degree of dispersion among the soils as for nutrient content, moisture, density, hardness and biological activity of the soil. Correlation was analyzed between soil density and moisture content, as well as influence of soil compaction onto its physical structure, bulk density, hardness and aeration. Tubers, their diameter, length and morphology were analyzed as plant characteristics that change under the influence of soil compaction.