Distribution and Evaluation of Soil Fertility Based on Geostatistical Approach in Bafra Deltaic Plain

Authors : Mustafa SAĞLAM, Orhan DENGİZ

Pages : 186-195

Doi:10.19159/tutad.27089

View : 17 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2014-09-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study was conducted to examine spatial variability of soil fertility depending on the level of selected soil fertility parameters in FenerVillagelocated on Bafra Alluvial Deltaic Plain by means of Soil Fertility Index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SFI); model using geostatistics and Geographic Information System insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GIS); technique. Fifteen soil properties [available macronutrient elements insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium);, available micronutrient elements insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(iron, copper, zinc, manganese);, and other soil properties insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(texture class, organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, CaCO 3 );] at the depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm were evaluated using SFI model for each georeferenced point. A total of 140 grid points were obtained and soil samples collected from surface insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0-30 cm); and subsurface insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(30-60 cm); depths of each grid centre are 131 and 124, respectively. Geostatistical method was used to generate SFI distribution maps for surface and subsurface soils of the study area. According to the results of SFI distributions for both depths, 80.18% of the study area has good insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(S1); and moderate fertility insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(S2);, 19.06% has marginal fertility insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(S3);, 0.75% has poor fertility in surface depth, while 38.83% of the study area has good insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(S1); and moderate fertility insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(S2);, 41.30% marginal fertility insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(S3); and 19.87% has poor fertility in subsurface depth. Consequently, findings of this study showed that geostatistical modelling was useful in the determination of the spatial variability structure and spatial dependency of investigated soil properties and nutrients.
Keywords : Soil fertility index, physical and chemical properties, nutrients, spatial variability, geographic information system