Fractal approach in characterization of spatial pattern of soil properties

Abstract

The objective of the study was to characterize spatial pattern of soil properties (CaCO3,soil organic carbon, P2O5, K2O, and clay content) using fractal concept. Total of 141 topsoil samples (0-30 cm) were collected on 1850 ha in karst polje (Petrovo polje, Croatia)and analyzed for listed soil properties. The semi-variogram method was used toestimate fractal dimension (D) value which was performed from both of isotropic andanisotropic perspective. The D value of soil properties ranged between 1.76 to 1.97,showing a domination of the short-range variations. The SOC and K2O fractal D values1.79 and 1.76 respectively, exhibited a spatial continuity at the entire analysed range ofthe scale. The D value for P2O5 (1.97) showed a nearly total absence of the spatialstructure at all scales. The CaCO3 and clay content indicated a multifractal behaviormainly attributed to effects of alluviation, differences in geology and its spatial changesand transitions. The results of anisotropic analysis of soil properties pattern haveshowed strong relations with directions and partial self-similarity over limited rangesof scales defined by scale-break. Finally, our results showed that fractal analysis can beused as a appropriate tool for the characterization of spatial pattern irregularities ofsoil properties and detection of soil forming factors that cause it.