Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation

The usefulness of a continental digital soil map (AfSoilGrids250) was investigated at two levels relevant for agricultural fertiliser recommendations in Rwanda (point locations and administrative sector unit averages). Analysis of 900 soil samples for pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) revealed that f...

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Autores principales: Söderström, Mats, Piikki, Kristin, Cordingley, Jeremy
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Informa UK Limited 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76687
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author Söderström, Mats
Piikki, Kristin
Cordingley, Jeremy
author_browse Cordingley, Jeremy
Piikki, Kristin
Söderström, Mats
author_facet Söderström, Mats
Piikki, Kristin
Cordingley, Jeremy
author_sort Söderström, Mats
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The usefulness of a continental digital soil map (AfSoilGrids250) was investigated at two levels relevant for agricultural fertiliser recommendations in Rwanda (point locations and administrative sector unit averages). Analysis of 900 soil samples for pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) revealed that fine spatial resolution in digital soil maps can be misleading. In order to promote accurate use of such maps, adequate information must be provided to allow users to assess whether a map is suitable for an intended use. In tests to improve the continental database locally at the levels examined in this study, regression kriging of SOC and pH from the continental data set with only 100 soil samples was found to reduce errors, and the predictions better resembled those in the ‘ground truth’ data set. The improved map was better for administrative sector averages than point locations and was more pronounced for SOC than for pH. As the use of digital soil maps becomes more widespread, it is important to clearly communicate map accuracy for a range of extents and application levels. A list of basic guidelines to facilitate usage and understanding of digital soil maps is presented in which we emphasise the importance to assess uncertainty and accuracy.
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spelling CGSpace766872025-03-13T09:43:59Z Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation Söderström, Mats Piikki, Kristin Cordingley, Jeremy cartography simulation models ph statistical analysis databases cartografía modelos de simulación análisis estadístico bases de datos ecology The usefulness of a continental digital soil map (AfSoilGrids250) was investigated at two levels relevant for agricultural fertiliser recommendations in Rwanda (point locations and administrative sector unit averages). Analysis of 900 soil samples for pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) revealed that fine spatial resolution in digital soil maps can be misleading. In order to promote accurate use of such maps, adequate information must be provided to allow users to assess whether a map is suitable for an intended use. In tests to improve the continental database locally at the levels examined in this study, regression kriging of SOC and pH from the continental data set with only 100 soil samples was found to reduce errors, and the predictions better resembled those in the ‘ground truth’ data set. The improved map was better for administrative sector averages than point locations and was more pronounced for SOC than for pH. As the use of digital soil maps becomes more widespread, it is important to clearly communicate map accuracy for a range of extents and application levels. A list of basic guidelines to facilitate usage and understanding of digital soil maps is presented in which we emphasise the importance to assess uncertainty and accuracy. 2017-01 2016-08-31T19:41:01Z 2016-08-31T19:41:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76687 en Open Access Informa UK Limited Söderström, Mats; Piikki, Kristin; Cordingley, Jeremy. 2016. Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation . South African Journal of Plant and Soil 1-11 p.
spellingShingle cartography
simulation models
ph
statistical analysis
databases
cartografía
modelos de simulación
análisis estadístico
bases de datos
ecology
Söderström, Mats
Piikki, Kristin
Cordingley, Jeremy
Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation
title Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation
title_full Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation
title_fullStr Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation
title_full_unstemmed Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation
title_short Improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation
title_sort improved usefulness of continental soil databases for agricultural management through local adaptation
topic cartography
simulation models
ph
statistical analysis
databases
cartografía
modelos de simulación
análisis estadístico
bases de datos
ecology
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76687
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AT piikkikristin improvedusefulnessofcontinentalsoildatabasesforagriculturalmanagementthroughlocaladaptation
AT cordingleyjeremy improvedusefulnessofcontinentalsoildatabasesforagriculturalmanagementthroughlocaladaptation