Soil & Water Res., 2007, 2(4):123-134 | DOI: 10.17221/2112-SWR

Mapping soils using the fuzzy approach and regression-kriging case study from the Považský Inovec Mountains, SlovakiaOriginal Paper

Juraj Balkovič1, 3, Gabriela Čemanová1, Jozef Kollár2, Miroslav Kromka1, Katarína Harnová1
1 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Natural Science, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
2 Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
3 Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

The paper introduces a method of digital mapping of spatial distribution of soil typological units. It implements fuzzy k-means to classify the soil profile data (study area from the Považský Inovec Mountains, Slovakia) and regression-kriging with the selected digital terrain and remote sensing data to draw membership maps of soil typological units. Totally three soil typological units were identified: Haplic Cambisols (Skeletic, Dystric), Albic Stagnic Luvisols, and Haplic Stagnosols (Albic, Dystric). We analysed the membership values to these units with respect to terrain and remote sensing data. The membership values appeared as spatially smoothly dependant on the terrain gradients (linearly or exponentially) whereas the residua showed spatial autocorrelation. Based on regression and kriging analyses, the regression-kriging model was successfully deployed to draw raster membership maps. These maps yield coefficients of determination between R2 = 56% (Albic Stagnic Luvisols) to R2= 79% (Haplic Cambisols (Skeletic, Dystric)) when evaluated by cross validation. The grid-based continuous soil map represents an alternative to the classical polygon soil maps and can offer a wide range of interpretations for landscape studies.

Keywords: fuzzy k-means; regression-kriging; digital landscape data; grid interpretation; spatial distribution; soil classification

Published: December 31, 2007  Show citation

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Balkovič J, Čemanová G, Kollár J, Kromka M, Harnová K. Mapping soils using the fuzzy approach and regression-kriging case study from the Považský Inovec Mountains, Slovakia. Soil & Water Res. 2007;2(4):123-134. doi: 10.17221/2112-SWR.
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