Abstract

SIMON, Mauricio; PERALTA, Nahuel  and  COSTA, Jose Luis. Relación entre la conductividad eléctrica aparente con propiedades del suelo y nutrientres. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2013, vol.31, n.1, pp.45-55. ISSN 1850-2067.

Site-specific management demands the identification of small areas within fields with homogeneous characteristics (management zones). However, determination of these homogeneous sub-fields is difficult because of complex relationships and spatial variability of soil properties, which affect spatial patterns of yield crop. In this paper, we evaluated apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) functions as potential estimators of soil properties and nutrients, and their possible use as tools for the delimitation of homogeneous areas. ECa mapping of a total of 58 ha was performed on two Haplustoll production fields, located south of the province of Cordoba, near the town of Canals. Soil, nutrients and ECa were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple correlations and ANOVA. Fine particles (clay, silt), coarse sand and soil organic matter (OM) content exhibited higher correlation with ECa (r>0,6; p<0,001), whereas P content and pH were lower (r= -0,47 and 0,42, respectively). The correlation among ECa and extract electrical conductivity (ECext), N-NO₃ - and S-SO₄ ^-2 were weak or inconsistent. ECa measurements successfully delimited three homogeneous soil zones associated to spatial distribution of fine particles (clay and silt), sand and OM content. However, it would not be advisable to differentiate management zones based on N-NO₃ -, SSO ₄ ^-2 content and ECext because the values were very low and there was little variation between ECa classes. These results suggest that field-scale ECa maps have may be a useful tool for site-specific crop management (SSCM).

Keywords : Precision agriculture; Management zones; Spatial variability; Nutrients.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )