Soil management zones delineated by electrical conductivity to characterize spatial and temporal variations in potato yield and in soil properties

Within-field management zones (MZ) delineated using soil electrical conductivity (EC) may provide the basis for site-specific crop management (SSCM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of EC for delineating homogenous soil MZ related to soil properties. Soil EC was measured on a 15-m×15-m grid using a Geonics EM38 on a 13.8-ha commercial field under potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. A subset of this grid (30 m×30 m) was used to collect soil samples (0–0.2 m) and to perform soil profile descriptions (1.2 m). Soil samples were analyzed for physico-chemical properties (texture, organic matter, pH, Mehlich-3 extractable elements). Potato tuber yields were measured using a yield monitor in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The K-means clustering algorithm was performed for delineating MZ using the soil EC kriged data matrix. Two MZ were found to be optimal for implementing SSCM management for potato in this field. These two MZ showed significant differences in soil water regime (thickness of sandy deposit over the clayey substratum, water table depth, water-holding capacity) and in some soil physico-chemical properties (soil organic matter, soil P, soil pH). Significant differences in potato yields (5.9 t ha−1) between the two MZ were attributed to differing water supply. Soil EC has the potential to be used efficiently for delineating within-field MZ for soils in which soil deposits and soil physical properties control soil moisture availability.ResumenEl manejo de campo dentro de zonas (ZM) delineados por la conductividad eléctrica (CE), puede proporcionar las bases para el manejo del cultivo dentro de un lugar específico (MCLE). El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficiencia de la CE para delinear las ZM en suelos homogéneos con relación a sus propiedades. La CE del suelo fue medida sobre una rejilla 15×15 m, utilizando Geonics EM38 en un campo comercial de 13.8 ha de papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) en producción. Un subconjunto de esta rejilla (30×30 m) fue utilizado para colectar muestras (0–0.2 m) y realizar la descripción del perfil del suelo (1.2 m). Las muestras de suelo fueron analizadas para determinar sus propiedades físico químicas (textura, materia orgánica, pH, elementos extraíbles Mehlich 3). Los rendimientos de tubérculos fueron medidos en 1998, 1999 y 2000, utilizando un monitor de rendimiento. Los promedios K del agrupamiento algoritmo se realizaron para delinear las ZM, utilizando los datos kriged matrix de CE. Se encontraron dos ZM óptimas para implementar el MCLE para papa en este campo. Estas dos ZM mostraron diferencias significativas en el régimen de agua del suelo (grosor del depósito de arena sobre substrato arcilloso, profundidad de la capa de agua, capacidad de retención de agua) y algunas propiedades físico químicas (materia orgánica, P, pH). Las diferencias significativas de los rendimientos (5.9t/ha−1) entre dos ZM fueron atribuidas a un mejor abastecimiento de agua. La CE tiene el potencial de ser utilizada eficientemente para delinear dentro del campo las ZM para suelos en los cuales los depósitos y las propiedades físicas controlan la disponibilidad de humedad del suelo.

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