Soil maps at a scale of 1:5000 as a source of soil databases taking soil variability into consideration: a case study from Czermin commune, S Poland

Abstract

Abstract The analysis of soil spatial property variability (fuzziness) are important for the interpretation of the site-specific ecosystems not only with respect to process investigations but also for soils modelling. The objective of the study was an attempt to identify the primary parameters influencing the spatial variability of soils available without the necessity of carrying out time-consuming and costly field and laboratory research. The research was carried out in the Czermin commune. The research included the application of geostatistical methods and interpretation of source materials, including (i) digital soil-agricultural map, (ii) annex to the soil-agricultural map at a scale of 1:5000, (iii) soil quality contours and (iv) digital terrain model. The verification of field research results (test polygon) involved the performance of vertical transect soil profiles. Genetic horizon patterns and their morphological parameters were determined. Soil samples were collected for laboratory analyses, involving the determination of the basic physical soil properties. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and geostatistics. The database based on soil quality contours is more detailed than that based on the soil-agricultural map, because there is no loss of important data concerning the division of land. Obtaining data concerning soil type and/or agricultural usefulness complexes would require conducting a generalisation process. Nearby soil pits from 1974 and new (2015) open pits were located. Soil profile for the open pits from 2015 were described and soil samples were taken for basic physical soil properties.