Spatial Variability Studies of Selected Soil Properties for Crops Land Management in Ellapamaruthankulam

Abstract

Soil management systems play an important role in sustainable agriculture and environmental quality. Management practices have greater effect on the direction and degree of changes in soil properties. The objective of the study was to assess the spatial variability of some selected soil chemical properties within the Crops Land area of 2.04 square km situated in Ellapamaruthankulam area, Vavuniya DS Division, Sri Lanka using ordinary kriging. A total of 30 georeferenced soil samples were collected using random sampling method. Selected soil samples were collected at 0-30 cm depth at an interval of 300 – 400m. CEC, EC, pH, Available Nitrogen (N), Available Phosphorus (P) and Available Potassium (K) were analyzed using Ammonium extract method, 1:2.5 Suspended method, 1:5 Suspended method, Kjeldal method, olsen method, and flame photometric method respectively. Geostatistical analyses were applied to examine the within-field spatial variability using kriged maps. Kriged maps for each property were prepared using Geostatistical software (ArcGIS 10.2 version). The produced spatial kriged maps showed that the entire Ellapamaruthankulam area has high CEC, non- saline EC. 89% of the land had, Neutral pH, 71% of the area had high Nitrogen level. the entire crop land had low phosphorus and potassium level. This study recommended the need for a site specific approach in managing agricultural land particularly with regard to Phosphorus and Potassium nutrient management for farmers.