Spatial variability of some chemical properties in a entisol

Abstract

Development and application of technologies for establishing the spatial behavior of soils, allow to optimize the use of different agricultural resources in order to improve the sustainability and competitiveness, reducing the risk of environmental degradation and improving its profitability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability and the relationships of some soil chemical properties, using different statistical techniques. The reseach was carried out in the municipality of Pasca (Cundinamarca) in a Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendtn. production area, in an Entisol. On a regular grid, 64 samples were taken, with perpendicular distances between points 25 x 12.5m, at 0.20m of depth, evaluating organic carbon, pH, Ca, Mg, K, sum of bases and Ca:Mg relation. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis, geostatistics and interpolation by kriging. The attributes showed low to medium variability, where the K was the only attribute that showed no spatial dependence. There was a strong relationship between cations, and a close relationship between Ca and the sum of bases. The contour maps confirmed the spatial variability of the properties, indicating the appropriateness of the agricultural inputs application at a variable rate. By adapting this methodology it is possible to improve the experimental design of future research, besides being the basis for the establishment of crops under precision agriculture concepts.