Spatial Variability of Some Chemical and Physical Soil Properties in Bandipora District of Lesser Himalayas

Soil is a suitable place for vegetation and plant growth. When this valuable resource is not preserved, shortage of food, erosion and damage of natural resources will be respected. Soil is a heterogeneous, diverse and dynamic system and investigation of its temporal and spatial changes is essential. In this paper spatial variability of some chemical and physical soil were investigated. Three hundred fifty eight soil samples were collected by systematic sampling strategy at 20 cm depth on a regular grid spacing of 500 × 500 m2 under different vegetation cover and processed for analysis in the laboratory. Soil chemical and physical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available phosphorus, available nitrogen, available potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium and sodium were measured. After data normalization, classical statistical analysis was used to describe soil properties and geo-statistical analysis was used to illustrate spatial correlation of soil characteristics. By using interpolating techniques, spatial distribution of these properties were prepared. Results indicated that calcium and phosphorus had strong and weak spatial dependence, respectively.