Spatial variability of chemical attributes of a soil under different uses and managements

The use and management of soil and crop condition the variability of soil attributes directly. This study was conducted in Selviria-MS, Brazil with the objective of evaluating the spatial variability of pH, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and base saturation No BS) in an Oxisol under different use and management conditions. Soil samples were collected in a grid, in regular 2 m intervals, at 64 grid points, at depths of 0.0-0.1 m and 0.1-0.2 m, from areas of. native cerrado vegetation (savannah), annual crops under no-tillage, annual crops under conventional tillage, and pasture. The highest variabilities, as determined by the coefficient of variation, were observed for K, Mg and Ca, while the lowest coefficient of variation was found for pH in the different uses and management conditions. A medium coefficient of variation was observed for the %BS. The ranges of soils under conventional tillage and pasture systems were smaller than those under native vegetation and no-tillage.