Abstract
Knowledge of the frequency distribution and spatial structure of the soil NO3-N is required to develop an efficient sampling strategy. A 1 ha polder field was sampled after the harvest of potatoes in October 1987, and in February and April 1988, without being fertilitzed since March 1987. These data sets were examined by a classical statistical as well as a spatial structure analysis. The October and February data sets were found to be lognormally distributed, the April data showed a normal frequency distribution. All three data sets had a spatial structure, although the October data were anisotropic and needed removal of a trend. The spatial variability of soil NO3−N decreased, became isotropic and evolved towards a larger range of spatial dependence during the winter. Knowledge of this structure permitted to krige or cokrige the data. The number of samples required to estimate the mean NO3−N content with an acceptable precision was found to be 39, 43 and 17 in October, February and April respectively.
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Van Meirvenne, M., Hofman, G. Spatial variability of soil nitrate nitrogen after potatoes and its change during winter. Plant Soil 120, 103–110 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370296
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370296