Field-scale spatial variability of soil calcium in a semi-arid region: Implications for soil erosion and site-specific management

doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(21)60019-X

Pedosphere

Volume 31, Issue 5, October 2021, Pages 705-714

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(21)60019-X Get rights and content

Abstract

Excess calcium (Ca) in soils of semi-arid and arid regions has negative effects on soil structure and chemical properties, which limits the crop root growth as well as the availability of soil water and nutrients. Quantifying the spatial variability of soil Ca contents may reveal factors influencing soil erosion and provide a basis for site-specific soil and crop management in semi-arid regions. This study sought to assess the spatial variability of soil Ca in relation to topography, hydraulic attributes, and soil types for precision soil and crop management in a 194-ha production field in the Southern High Plains of Texas, USA. Soils at four depth increments (0–2, 0–15, 15–30, and 30–60 cm) were sampled at 232 points in the spring of 2017. The Ca content of each sample was determined with a DP-6000 Delta Premium portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometer. Elevation data was obtained using a real-time kinematic GPS receiver with centimeter-level accuracy. A digital elevation model (DEM) was derived from the elevation data, and topographic and hydraulic attributes were generated from this DEM. A generalized least-squares model was then developed to assess the relationship between soil Ca contents of the four layers and the topographic and hydraulic attributes. Results showed that topographic attributes, especially slope and elevation, had a significant effect on soil Ca content at different depths (P < 0.01). In addition, hydraulic attributes, especially flow length and sediment transport index (STI), had a significant effect on the spatial distribution of soil Ca. Spatial variability of soil Ca and its relationships with topographic and hydraulic attributes and soil types indicated that surface soil loss may occur due to water or wind erosion, especially on susceptible soils with high slopes. Therefore, this study suggests that the application of PXRF in assessing soil Ca content can potentially facilitate a new method for soil erosion evaluation in semi-arid lands. The results of this study provide valuable information for site-specific soil conservation and crop management.

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Field-scale spatial variability of soil calcium in a semi-arid region: Implications for soil erosion and site-specific management

Abstract

Ann Agrar Sci

Catena

Catena

Geoderma

J Geochem Explor

Soil Tillage Res

Ecol Eng

Catena

Geoderma

Comput Geosci

Comput Geosci

Geoderma

J Arid Environ

Geoderma

Catena

Detection of areas associated with flash floods and erosion caused by rainfall storm using topographic attributes, hydrologic indices, and GIS

Spatial distribution of surface soil acidity, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon content and exchangeable potassium, calcium and magnesium in some cropped acid soils of India

Land Degrad Dev

Handbook of Processes and Modeling in the Soil-Plant System

A physically based, variable contributing area model of basin hydrology

Hydrol Sci Bull

Identification of regional soil quality factors and indicators: I. Central and southern high plains

Soil Sci Soc Am J

Irrigated cotton lint yields as affected by phosphorus fertilizer and landscape position

Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal

Soil erosion on irrigated lands

Potential use of polyacrylamide for soil erosion control in Brazil

J Sustain Dev

Characteristics of airborne particles produced by wind erosion of sandy soil, high plains of west Texas

Soil Sci

Geostatistics for Natural Resources Evaluation (Applied Geostatistics)