Spatial variation of the physicochemical properties of soils from the Botevgrad Valley
Krastena Ilieva, Biser Hristov
Abstract: The aim of the present study is a spatial analysis and assessment of the main physicochemical properties of the soils in Botevgrad Valley. The soil samples were taken along a pre-selected grid to cover the areas selected for research as uniformly as possible. The data were interpolated using the geostatistical methods of kriging and variogram analysis. The soils have relatively favourable physicochemical properties, such as the cation sorption capacity with values from 10.80 to 24.50 mequ/100 g of soil. The basic cations, such as calcium and magnesium, dominate anywhere, and those with acidic functions, such as exchangeable aluminium and hydrogen, have minimal values. The base saturation is almost above 50%, and the soils are defined as Eutric. Soil reaction also varies from strongly acidic to slightly alkaline.
Keywords: base saturation; CEC; kriging; soil pH
Date published: 2023-09-28
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