Some Plant Nutrient Contents of Samandağ Region Soils and Their Mapping

Abstract

In this study, the macro and micro plant nutrients contents of some soils in the Samandağ region were determined. Their distribution in the study area was also investigated using geographic information systems (GIS) and geostatistical methods. Forty-nine soil samples were taken from a 0-20 cm depth randomly from the study area, covering an area of ​​approximately 1250 hectares. Plant-available calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) contents were determined in the soil samples. Descriptive statistical analysis was also performed for all parameters of the soils within the scope of the study. The spatial distribution of soil properties was modeled using the GS+ (version 10) geostatistical package program for Windows, and distribution maps of these properties were generated using the ArGis (version 10.8) GIS program. It was found that the average K, Ca, Mg and P contents of the soils were 582.9, 7335.3, 3869.9 and 7.56 mg kg-1, respectively; the average Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn contents were 2.14, 3.22, 3.62 and 3.33 mg kg-1, respectively. According to the coefficient of variation (CV) values of the parameters, it was determined that Ca values were the most homogeneously distributed, while Mn contents were the most heterogeneously distributed in the study area. The A0 (range) values of the nutrient element contents of the soils in the study area varied between 145 m (Cu) and 6114 m (Zn). This shows that the spatial dependence of soil properties varies within very wide limits. The most suitable semivariogram model for the study area soils was determined as Spherical for K, Mg and P; Exponential for Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn; and Guassian for Cu.