Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties

Digital soil mapping techniques usually take an entirely data-driven approach and model soil properties individually and layer by layer, without consideration of interactions. In previous studies we implemented a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach to include pedological knowledge and betwe...

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Main Authors: Angelini, Marcos Esteban, Heuvelink, Gerard B.M.
Format: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2898
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221167531730297X?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spasta.2018.04.003
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author Angelini, Marcos Esteban
Heuvelink, Gerard B.M.
author_browse Angelini, Marcos Esteban
Heuvelink, Gerard B.M.
author_facet Angelini, Marcos Esteban
Heuvelink, Gerard B.M.
author_sort Angelini, Marcos Esteban
collection INTA Digital
description Digital soil mapping techniques usually take an entirely data-driven approach and model soil properties individually and layer by layer, without consideration of interactions. In previous studies we implemented a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach to include pedological knowledge and between-properties and between-layer interactions in the mapping process. However, it typically does not consider spatial correlation. Our goal was to extend SEM by accounting for residual spatial correlation using a geostatistical approach. We assumed second-order stationary and estimated the semivariogram parameters, together with the usual SEM parameters, using maximum likelihood estimation. Spatial prediction was done using regression kriging. The methodology is applied to mapping cation exchange capacity, clay content and soil organic carbon for three soil horizons in a 150100-km 2 study area in the Great Plains of the United States. The calibration process included all parameters used in lavaan, a SEM software, plus two extra parameters to model residual spatial correlation. The residuals showed substantial spatial correlation, which indicates that including spatial correlation yields more accurate predictions. We also compared the standard SEM and the spatial SEM approaches in terms of SEM model coefficients. Differences were substantial but none of the coefficients changed sign. Presence of residual spatial correlation suggests that some of the causal factors that explain soil variation were not captured by the set of covariates. Thus, it is worthwhile to search for additional covariates leaving only unstructured residual noise, but provided that this is not achieved, it is beneficial to include residual spatial correlation in mapping using SEM.
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spelling INTA28982018-07-27T13:12:41Z Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties Angelini, Marcos Esteban Heuvelink, Gerard B.M. Propiedades Físico-Químicas Suelo Soil Chemicophysical Properties Pedometrics Spatial Correlation Lavaan Regression Kriging Correlación Espacial Digital soil mapping techniques usually take an entirely data-driven approach and model soil properties individually and layer by layer, without consideration of interactions. In previous studies we implemented a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach to include pedological knowledge and between-properties and between-layer interactions in the mapping process. However, it typically does not consider spatial correlation. Our goal was to extend SEM by accounting for residual spatial correlation using a geostatistical approach. We assumed second-order stationary and estimated the semivariogram parameters, together with the usual SEM parameters, using maximum likelihood estimation. Spatial prediction was done using regression kriging. The methodology is applied to mapping cation exchange capacity, clay content and soil organic carbon for three soil horizons in a 150100-km 2 study area in the Great Plains of the United States. The calibration process included all parameters used in lavaan, a SEM software, plus two extra parameters to model residual spatial correlation. The residuals showed substantial spatial correlation, which indicates that including spatial correlation yields more accurate predictions. We also compared the standard SEM and the spatial SEM approaches in terms of SEM model coefficients. Differences were substantial but none of the coefficients changed sign. Presence of residual spatial correlation suggests that some of the causal factors that explain soil variation were not captured by the set of covariates. Thus, it is worthwhile to search for additional covariates leaving only unstructured residual noise, but provided that this is not achieved, it is beneficial to include residual spatial correlation in mapping using SEM. Instituto de Suelos Fil: Angelini, Marcos Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; Argentina. Wageningen University. Soil Geography and Landscape group; Holanda . International Soil Reference and Information Centre. World Soil Information; Holanda. Fil: Heuvelink, Gerard B.M. Soil Geography and Landscape group; Holanda . International Soil Reference and Information Centre. World Soil Information; Holanda. 2018-07-27T13:06:03Z 2018-07-27T13:06:03Z 2018-06 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2898 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221167531730297X?via%3Dihub 2211-6753 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spasta.2018.04.003 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Elsevier Spatial statistics 25 : 35-51. (June 2018)
spellingShingle Propiedades Físico-Químicas Suelo
Soil Chemicophysical Properties
Pedometrics
Spatial Correlation
Lavaan
Regression Kriging
Correlación Espacial
Angelini, Marcos Esteban
Heuvelink, Gerard B.M.
Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties
title Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties
title_full Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties
title_fullStr Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties
title_full_unstemmed Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties
title_short Including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties
title_sort including spatial correlation in structural equation modelling of soil properties
topic Propiedades Físico-Químicas Suelo
Soil Chemicophysical Properties
Pedometrics
Spatial Correlation
Lavaan
Regression Kriging
Correlación Espacial
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/2898
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221167531730297X?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spasta.2018.04.003
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