Fractal approach in characterization of spatial pattern of soil properties

Abstract

The objective of the study was to characterize spatial pattern of soil properties (CaCO3, soil organic carbon, P2O5, K2O, and clay content) using fractal concept. Total of 141 topsoil samples (0-30 cm) were collected on 1850 ha in karst polje (Petrovo polje, Croatia) and analyzed for listed soil properties. The semi-variogram method was used to estimate fractal dimension (D) value which was performed from both of isotropic and anisotropic perspective. The D value of soil properties ranged between 1.76 to 1.97, showing a domination of the short-range variations. The SOC and K2O fractal D values 1.79 and 1.76 respectively, exhibited a spatial continuity at the entire analysed range of the scale. The D value for P2O5 (1.97) showed a nearly total absence of the spatial structure at all scales. The CaCO3 and clay content indicated a multifractal behavior mainly attributed to effects of alluviation, differences in geology and its spatial changes and transitions. The results of anisotropic analysis of soil properties pattern have showed strong relations with directions and partial self-similarity over limited ranges of scales defined by scale-break. Finally, our results showed that fractal analysis can be used as a appropriate tool for the characterization of spatial pattern irregularities of soil properties and detection of soil forming factors that cause it.

Spatial and fractal characterization of soil properties across soil depth in an agricultural field, Northeast Iran

“…The spatial variation of soil properties such as organic matter, clay content, pH and water retention capacity is caused by pedogenic processes which are influenced by hydrological and temperature regimes modified by topography (Pilesjő et al, 2005;Florinsky, 2012;Vasu et al, 2017a). The source of these variations, which hitherto recognized as a nuisance, has received widespread recognition among researchers in recent times (Bengough et al, 2000;Linsenmeier et al, 2011;Tuffour, 2015;Miloš and Bensa, 2017;Vasu et al, 2017a). Knowledge on the spatial distribution of soil properties at different scales is a prerequisite for site specific soil management and minimizes the negative effects of management practices on environmental quality (Cambardella et al, 1994;Bogunovic et al, 2014).…”

“…However, anomalies in soil data and their deviation from normal (Gaussian) or log-normal distribution need to recognized for identification, accurate delineation, and modeling of soil properties for site specific soil management and precision agriculture (Fu et al, 2010;Bogunovic et al, 2014;Vasu et al, 2017a). Soil particles were assumed to have "self-similar" features, and fractal theories were employed to investigate their characteristics in several studies (e.g., Oleschko et al, 2008;Tuffour, 2015;Li et al, 2016;Miloš and Bensa, 2017). For example, fractal dimensions of particle size distribution (PSD) were found to be influenced by land use and management practices (Wang et al, 2008).…”

The Relationship between Fractal Properties and Active Porosity of Peat Compositions

“…A fractal geometry should be used considering the difficult and irregular nature of peat pores geometry [2]. The fractal theory offers the possibility of analyzing and quantifying soil variability measurements on different spatial scales [3].…”