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Spatial Variability Of Crop And Soil Properties In A Crop-livestock Integrated System
1A. C. Bernardi, 2C. R. Grego, 3R. G. Andrade, 4C. M. Vaz, 4L. M. Rabello, 4R. Y. Inamasu
1. Embrapa Pecu
2. Embrapa Monitoramento por Sat
3. mbrapa Monitoramento por Sat
4. Embrapa Instrumenta

The knowledge of spatial variability soil properties is useful in the rational use of inputs, as in the site specific application of lime and fertilizer. The objective of this work was to map and evaluate the spatial variability of the crop, soil chemical and physical properties. The study was conducted in 2 areas of 6.9 and 11.7 ha of a Typic Haplustox in Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil. The summer crops corn and sorghum were sowed together to the forage crop Brachiaria brizantha in the system of crop-pasture rotation. A regular hexagon sampling grid design with 6 sub-samples was adopted for each hectare. The values of soil P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Mn, Zn, S-SO4, ECC, basis saturation clay, sand and silt were analyzed by traditional soil testing in georreferenced samples collected at 0–0.2 m depth. Soil particle size was also evaluated and water retention curve estimated using gamma-ray beam attenuation. Soil water retention curves were predicted from soil particle-size distribution by the Arya and Paris model. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) was measured with a contact sensor. Sites were evaluated at the end of the season by imageries from the Landsat 5 using remote sensing techniques and a geographic information system. Normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI) was used to interpret imagery. Spatial continuity of crop and soil properties was modeled using semivariograms. Maps of crop and soil properties were obtained by kriging. Results indicated that precision agriculture tools can help the farmer to increase the yield efficiency through a better soil management and rational use of the inputs, reducing costs, and other times, increasing productivity.

Keyword: geostatistics, soil fertility, soil texture, electrical conductivity, field sensor, VERIS, Landsat 5, NDVI