Soil environmental quality in Nanling commodity grain base based on equal intercept transformation radar chart

Abstract

This paper introduces for the first time the equal intercept transformation radar chart—an improved form—to the assessment of soil environmental quality of Nanling commodity grain base. The equal intercept transformation radar chart, a visual graphical data analysis method, translates data from a numerical to graphical format. This visualization enables data presentation, analysis process and results stick out a mile and is capable of fully retaining information contained in data and excavating it in depth from geometry. Moreover, it overcomes pertinently the main defect of the conventional radar chart that the evaluation result depends heavily on the order of arrangement of indicators. The results indicated that the soil environmental quality at depths of 0–60 cm in the low mountain area of the Nanling commodity grain base was the second grade, while that in the hilly and plain areas were both first grade. The indicators of poor soil environmental quality in the low mountain area were exogenous Cd and endogenous As; those in the hilly area were exogenous Cd and endogenous As and Hg; and that in the plain area was exogenous Cd. The results were in line with the actual situation of the study area.