Spatial Variability Mapping of Soil Chemical Properties Using GIS & GPS

Abstract

Excessive application of fertilizers can cause wastage of fertilizer which increases input cost and environmental pollution. Implementation of Precision Agriculture through site specific nutrient management is the best suitable solution to increase nutrient application efficiency and thereby increase crop productivity. The present study was carried out in the Instructional Farm of KCAET campus, Tavanur, Malappuram, Kerala, to access the spatial variability of different soil chemical properties. The methodology follows the delineation of the study area, location of sampling points and soil samples were collected and analysed for the soil chemical properties such as pH, Electric Conductivity, Available Nitrogen, Available Phosphorous, Available Potassium, Boron and Sulphur using standard methods. Spatial variability maps of soil chemical properties were prepared by using Inverse Distance Weighing method of interpolation in ArcGIS. From this study, it could be concluded that, GIS along with GPS could be used as an effective tool for preparation of spatial variability maps for determining the spatial distribution of chemical properties of soils and thereby helps to achieve site specific nutrient recommendation which improves crop productivity, quality and reduce environmental stress. It also involves a lesser number of soil analysis and thus reduces the cost of operation compared to plot-to-plot analysis.

Field Evaluation of Site Specific Drip Fertigation in Tomato

“…The field was divided into three different fertility zones viz. low, medium and high, using the spatial variability maps of three macronutrients (N, P and K) prepared by the GIS interpolation method [4]. Out of these, two test plots, one from high fertility area and another from low fertility area were located with the help of GPS to raise the tomato crop.…”

Farm-Scale Mapping of Soil Microbiological Indicators Using Geostatistical Technique

“…Geostatistical tools, based on theory of regionalized variables, provides the extent of spatial structure or measurement of spatial scale for variability of soil attributes by semivariogram analysis and creation of surface prediction map by kriging interpolation through prediction of attribute values at unsampled locations [13,14]. Spatial variability of soil properties as well as quality indicators are being widely assessed and mapped using geospatial tools now-a-days [15,16]. Even spatiotemporal assessment and monitoring of soil microbial properties was also reported using geospatial tools [17][18][19].…”