Mapping soil attributes for site-specific management of a Montana field

John P. Wilson; Damian J. Spangrud; Melissa A. Landon; Jeffrey S. Jacobsen; Gerald A. Nielson

doi:10.1117/12.198897

6 January 1995 Mapping soil attributes for site-specific management of a Montana field

John P. Wilson, Damian J. Spangrud, Melissa A. Landon, Jeffrey S. Jacobsen, Gerald A. Nielson

Proceedings Volume 2345, Optics in Agriculture, Forestry, and Biological Processing; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.198897
Event: Photonics for Industrial Applications, 1994, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Conventional soil maps represent the distribution of soil attributes across landscapes but with less precision than is needed to obtain the full economic and environmental benefits of site- specific crop management. This study quantifies the spatial variability of three agronomically significant soil attributes: (1) thickness of mollic epipedon, (2) organic matter content (OM), and (3) pH as related to soil survey map units, spectral data, and terrain attributes for a 20 ha field in Montana. Analysis of Order 1 (1:7920-scale) Soil Survey map units indicates substantial variation in all three soil attributes. There was some evidence that similar attribute values were clustered in the field (0.40 - 0.46 Moran's Coefficients). Two spectral band ratios explained 64% of the variation in OM across the field. GPS/GIS-derived wetness index, sediment transport index, elevation, and slope gradient explained 48% of OM variation. Wetness index, slope gradient, and plan curvature combined to explain 48% of the variation in mollic epipedon thickness. Elevation and wetness index explained just 13% of pH variation. Two spectral band ratios, specific catchment area, and wetness index combined to explain 70% of the variation in OM at 66 sampling sites. Four contour map representations of OM illustrate the sensitivity of the final maps to variations in input data and interpolation method.

Citation Download Citation

John P. Wilson, Damian J. Spangrud, Melissa A. Landon, Jeffrey S. Jacobsen, and Gerald A. Nielson "Mapping soil attributes for site-specific management of a Montana field", Proc. SPIE 2345, Optics in Agriculture, Forestry, and Biological Processing, (6 January 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.198897

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available