Spatial Variability Analysis of Soil Nutrients Based on GIS and Geostatistics: A Case Study of Yisa Township, Yunnan, China

A study on the Hani rice terraces, a UNESCO-recognized Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), reveals significant spatial variability in soil nutrients critical for sustainable land use. Using geostatistics and GIS, researchers analyzed pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in Yisa Township, Yunnan, China. The findings indicate that while most nutrients (pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available potassium) exhibit medium spatial variability with coefficients of variation ranging from 12.54% to 40.14%, available phosphorus shows strong variability at 102.13%. The spatial distribution patterns suggest that total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium are strongly influenced by soil structural factors, whereas pH, organic matter, and alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen are affected by both structural and random factors. Kriging interpolation was used to visually characterize these distributions, providing insights for targeted agricultural management practices such as fertilization.

Jing, L., Qingwen, M., Wenhua, L., Yanying, B., C, D. B. G., & Zheng, Y. (2014). Spatial Variability Analysis of Soil Nutrients Based on GIS and Geostatistics: A Case Study of Yisa Township, Yunnan, China. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 5(4), 348–355. https://doi.org/10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2014.04.010