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23, 2011
ORIGINAL PAPER ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION IN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF SRI
LANKA
SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF SOIL TEXTURE, ORGANIC CARBON AND CATION EXCHANGE
CAPACITY OF A REDDISH BROWN LATASOLIC SOIL IN A SLOPY LANDSCAPE
ABSTRACT
Detailed and quantitative information on spatial variability of soil properties is a pre-requisite for decision making in site-
specific soil management and land use planning. Classical maps are published at a coarse scale thus they are not sufficient to
provide detailed soil spatial information requirement. Therefore, there is a need of exploring short-scale variability of soil
properties and produce detailed maps in different soilscapes. This study was conducted at the Dodangolla experimental station
of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya to investigate the spatial variability of key soil properties in a selected slopy
landscape and to produce digital maps of soil variability. A seven hectare pasture land that consisting of Reddish Brown
Latasolic Great Soil Group (Ultisols) was selected for the study. Clay, sand, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity
(CEC) of top (0-30 cm) and subsoil (30-60 cm) were determined at 55 sampling locations identified using a combined grid and
random sampling scheme. The variogram analysis indicated high to moderate spatially structured variability of top and subsoil
properties. It was also evident that a large proportion of total variation (52% to 100%) was accounted by the spatially
structured component. Range of spatial dependencies of topsoil varied from 75 m to 95 m whereas that of subsoil properties
ranged from 68 m to 81 m. These variogram parameters could be used to develop optimum sampling schemes for detailed
characterization of these key soil properties in a similar soilscape. Digital map layers of each soil property further explained
the short-scale variability of the area. This short-scale variability can be used to implement sustainable land management
practices while minimizing the detrimental effects on environment. This study also revealed that short-scale variability of soil
properties is governed by the landscape processes.
Range of spatial dependencies for the topsoil properties property. Cambardella et al. (1994) proposed the use of
varied from 75 m to 95 m whereas that of the subsoil varied RNE% to quantify the degree of spatial dependency of a
from 68 m to 81 m. Webster and Oliver (2001) suggested that variable. Accordingly, top soil clay, subsoil clay and CEC
the range value of a variogram can be used to find out the showed strong spatial dependency (RNE <25%) whereas
maximum sampling interval. These results indicate that the other properties showed moderate level (RNE = 25% -75%)
samples should be taken within the sampling interval of less of spatial dependencies. Top and subsoil clay showed a
than 68 m for detailed characterization of these soil nugget variance of zero indicating a negligible level of
properties. Further, when spatial variability of individual soil random variation. According to Cambardella et al. (1994)
properties is concerned, corresponding ranges can be strong spatially dependent properties are controlled by the
considered when designing sampling schemes for each soil intrinsic factors such as soil forming processes.
Table 2. Model parameters of the fitted variogram models of top and subsoil properties
(a) (b)
Semivariance
Semivariance
Fig. 3. Omnidirectional experimental variograms (dots) fitted models (curves) for top soil (a) clay, (b) sand, (c) organic
matter, (d) CEC and subsoil (e) clay (f) sand (g) organic matter (h) CEC
Spatial Variability of Soil Properties of a Reddish Brown Latasolic Soil. Nayanaka et.al.
(c) (d)
Semivariance
Semivariance
(e) (f)
Semivariance
Semivariance
(g) (h)
Semivariance
Semivariance
Fig. 3. Continued
Digital maps of topsoil properties draped over the Digital High topsoil organic matter content (1.7% to 2.7%) was
elevation model (DEM) of the study area are presented in the observed in a part of the southern corner of the field where
Fig. 4a to d to explain the spatial variability of soil properties enrichment of clay was also evidenced (Fig. 4c). Many
and their relationships with the landscape. researchers have documented that the low lying landscape
positions are likely to accumulate organic materials due to
Topsoil clay map (Fig. 4a) showed a large variability across
slow decomposition rates caused by anaerobic conditions and
the hilly landscape. Large part of the area had moderate clay
deposition of organic material from upper landscape
content (10% to 20%) whereas smallest clay contents (<5%)
positions. Furthermore, organic matter content can increase
were observed in the north-western corner of the field which
with clay content as organic matter form organo-mineral
is the highest position of the field. All most opposite spatial
complexes which are resistant to decomposition (Brady and
distribution was observed for the topsoil sand content (Fig.
Weil, 1998). However, the spatial distribution of topsoil
5b). Moor et al. (1993) and Gessler et al. (2000) have
organic matter did not significantly coincide with the clay
observed distributions of large sand content and smaller clay
contents of the other parts of the field. Poor correlation
contents in the upper positions (crest and shoulder positions)
between topsoil organic matter and clay (r = 0.1) also
of the landscape. Water erosion occurring in the hilly
confirmed the absence of a strong linear relationship.
landscape is the reason for such spatial distributions of sand
According to the crop history, this land has been used for
and clay fractions in the upper positions of the field. Finer
annual crop cultivation and later it has been converted to a
particles such as clay and silt are more susceptible to erosion
pasture land. Therefore, addition of organic manure may have
by water compared to the sand particles. Therefore, such finer
masked the distribution of soil organic carbon under natural
particles can be removed from upper landscape positions and
conditions. Spatial distribution of CEC was similar to that of
deposited in low-lying areas in the hilly landscape. This study
the organic carbon (Fig. 4d). Larger CEC (15 cmolc/Kg to 24
clearly revealed this by showing a comparatively large clay
cmolc/Kg of soil) was observed in the same low lying
contents (20% to 30%) in the center and the bottom part of
landscape positions where organic matter was also high (Fig.
the field (Fig. 4a) and lower clay contents at the upslope
4c). Comparatively low CEC values were distributed in
areas.
northwestern corner (hill top) and the ridges in the center
J. Soil Sci. Soc. Sri Lanka, Vol. 23,2011
positions of the landscape. Larger sand content (>75%) was to that of topsoil clay (Fig. 5a and b). Further, compared to
also observed in those areas in field (Fig. 4b). it is a well topsoil, areas with low clay content (<5%) appeared
known fact that soil texture is one of the important factors prominently in the subsoil indicating a minimum disturbance
contributing to the cation exchange capacity in soil. Sand of previous management practices to subsoil clay. Fig. 5c
fraction of the texture usually consists of primary minerals shows that the low-lying area in the southern corner of the
such as Quartz and Feldspars which have low CEC compared field and concave slope positions (north-east direction) had
with the clay minerals (Brady and Weil, 1998). Therefore, high subsoil organic matter content (1.5% to 2.1%) whereas a
both organic matter and sandy texture can be the possible small area with low organic matter (<0.5%) was noticed in
reason for spatial distribution of CEC in the field. Correlation the highest position of the landscape at the north western
coefficients of 0.5 and -0.4 between CEC and organic matter corner.
and CEC and sand also supported this evidence. Subsoil clay
and sand contents showed small difference in spatial patterns
Fig. 4. Digital map layers of topsoil (a) clay%, (b) sand%, (c) organic matter%, (d) and CEC cmol(+)/Kg (g) draped on the
digital elevation model
Many researchers including Moor et al. (1993) and Gessler et concave area in north-eastern corner and the area along the
al. (2000) documented high organic matter associated with western corner were identified with large CEC values (Fig.
footslope and concave areas in landscape. However, it is 5d). Comparatively high organic matter and clay content in
important that such soil-landscape relationships need to be low lying area of northern corner and concave area of north
quantified in order to use such relationships to map soil eastern corner (Fig. 5a and c) had attributed to high CEC
properties accurately. Low-lying area in the southern corner, values in those areas.
Spatial Variability of Soil Properties of a Reddish Brown Latasolic Soil. Nayanaka et.al.
Fig. 5. Digital map layers of subsoil (a) clay%, (b) sand%, (c) organic matter%, (d) and CEC cmol (+)/Kg (g) draped on the
digital elevation model
Burrough, P.A., 1993. Fractals and Geostatistical methods in
CONCLUSIONS landscape studies. p. 87-112. In: N. Lam and L. de Cola
(ed.) Fractals in geography. Prentice Hall, Englewood
This study was an attempt to quantify the spatially structured Clifts, NJ.
variability of key soil properties for crop production by means Burrough, P.A., 1983. Multi-scale sources of spatial variation in
of geo-statistical analysis and use of information to produce soil: The application of fractal concepts to nested levels
detailed and accurate maps. The variogram analysis showed of soil variation. Journal of Soil Science 34: 577597.
the presence of structured spatial variability of soil properties. Cahn, M.D., J.W. Hummel and B.H. Brouer. 1994. Spatial
The spatial dependencies of topsoil ranged from 75 m to 95m Analysis of Soil Fertility for Site Specific Crop
whereas that in subsoil properties exhibited a range of 68 m to Management. Soil.Sci. Soc. Am.J. 58:1240-1248.
Cambardella, C.A., T.B. Moorman, J.M. Novak, T.B. Parkin,
81 m. Digital maps exhibited a clear spatial variability of soil
D.L. Karlen, R.F. Turco, and A.E. Konopka. 1994.
properties further strengthening the information revealed by
Field-scale variability of soil properties in central Iowa
variograms. Further, spatial distribution of all soil properties
soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58:1501-1511.
except for soil organic matter largely resembled the general
Deutsch, C.V. and A.G. Journel. 1998. GSLIB, Geostatistical
topography of the slopy landscape. This indicated the
software library and user guide, 2ed. Oxford University
presence of satisfactory soil-landscape relationships which press. NY.
can be used for cost-effective characterization of the Foussereau, X., A.G. Hornsby, and R.B. Brown. 1993.
investigated soil properties. This study clearly showed that Accounting for variability within map units when
the within field variability of soil properties is significant and linking a pesticide fate model to soil survey. Geoderma
should be considered in site-specific soil management and 60: 257276.
land use planning. Gee, G.W., and J.W. Bauder. 2002. Particle size analysis, p. 383-
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J. Soil Sci. Soc. Sri Lanka, Vol. 23,2011