A multiscale soil–landform relationship in the glacial‐drift area based on digital terrain analysis and soil attributes

Abstract

Understanding the linkages between structure and processes in soil landscapes involves analyses across several spatial and temporal scales. The transfer of information between scales requires the (1) identification of respective scale levels and (2) procedures for regionalization. Here, we present a multiparameter delineation of landform units and their attribution with typical Reference Soil Groups (RSG) of a landscape of NE Germany which is representative of young moraine regions. Data sources are a digital elevation model (DEM, 5 m × 5 m), a reference data set from sections of an intensively augered landscape, and expert knowledge. A conceptual digital soil map was constructed in the scale 1:5000 based on the Topographic Position Index (TPI). The methodology is applicable for multiscale analyses. Results are (1) the landform unit classified by digital terrain analysis of a DEM, (2) the attribution of RSG, and (3) the evaluation of the classification. Accuracy of the method was 57% overall, with 70% accuracy on typical erosional sites. The developed method allows identification of terrain‐related soil pattern with high spatial resolution in glacial‐drift areas. The high resolution of soil information can be used for delineation of management zones in precision farming, or as input for process studies and models requiring a translation of typological soil information into relevant soil properties (e.g., by pedotransfer functions).

Spatial disaggregation of complex soil map units: A decision-tree based approach in Bavarian forest soils

“…The influence of relief on the spatial distribution of soils especially on field to landscape scale was first formulated in the catena concept (Milne, 1935). Numerous studies in soil landscape modeling and digital soil mapping used topographic attributes as spatial covariates (see for an overview Behrens et al, 2010;Deumlich et al, 2010;McBratney et al, 2003;Möller et al, 2008). Our method relies on these relationships.…”

Within-field variation of mycotoxin contamination of winter wheat is related to indicators of soil moisture

“…This natural sequence is modified due to intense erosion/deposition processes, mainly by tillage and water. As a consequence, eroded soils like Haplic Regosols (calcaric) are developed at hilltops, and Colluvic Regosols found at footslopes, small depressions and hollows of the landscape (Schmidt 1991;Sommer et al 2008;Deumlich et al 2010;soil classification according to WRB 2006).…”

Aquifer configuration and geostructural links control the groundwater quality in thin-bedded carbonate–siliciclastic alternations of the Hainich CZE, central Germany

“…The slope position/relief position (i.e. shoulder, midslope) was calculated using the "Relief Analysis" tool of ArcGIS (Deumlich et al, 2010). It considers slope gradient, relative elevation and profile curvature (concave/convex) by using the slope gradient (4) and the TPI raster (5).…”