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Assessing Spatial Variability of Soil Properties in Mediterranean Smallholder Farming Systems

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Listed:
  • Chariklia Kosma

    (Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece)

  • Vassilios Triantafyllidis

    (Department of Business Administration of Food & Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, G. Seferi 2, 30100 Agrinio, Greece)

  • Anastasios Zotos

    (Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece)

  • Antonios Pittaras

    (Department of Business Administration of Food & Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, G. Seferi 2, 30100 Agrinio, Greece)

  • Varvara Kouneli

    (Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Stella Karydogianni

    (Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Antonios Mavroeidis

    (Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Ioanna Kakabouki

    (Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Dimitrios Beslemes

    (Research and Development Department, Alfa seeds ICSA, 10 km Mesorachis-Agiou Georgiou, 41500 Larissa, Greece)

  • Evangelia L. Tigka

    (Institute of Soil and Water Resources, Department of Soil Science of Athens, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER, Sofokli Venizelou 1, 14123 Lykovrissi, Greece)

  • Ioannis Roussis

    (Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Dimitrios Bilalis

    (Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Smallholder farming systems are typical of the European Mediterranean region. Small farms of less than 2 hectares cover approximately 15% of cropland in the southern EU and only 5% across the EU. The greater variability of cultivated species per unit of cropland (ha), the different approaches, and empirical application of cultivation practices by smallholder farmers increase the spatial variability of soil properties. Therefore, a decision support tool for effective management practices was formed based on a soil indicators set, which is sensitive to changes under agricultural management practices and different LUs. The data for this task were collected from 364 crop fields. The data were clustered and correlated based on (a) the existing soil units (SU): Fluvisols, Cambisols, Luvisols, and Calcisols, and (b) the LU: pastureland, annual, and permanent crops. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified up to seven main components that can better explain soil variability properties. The results indicated that the selected soil indicators can explain only 70.98% of soil variability. Clustering the parameters based on LU and SU can explain up to 80% and 82% of soil properties’ variability, respectively. Factor analysis could function as a decision support tool for soil fertility management by farmers or policy makers, who aim to achieve higher yields, promote sustainable practices, maintaining, at the same time, a low cost of cultivation.

Suggested Citation

  • Chariklia Kosma & Vassilios Triantafyllidis & Anastasios Zotos & Antonios Pittaras & Varvara Kouneli & Stella Karydogianni & Antonios Mavroeidis & Ioanna Kakabouki & Dimitrios Beslemes & Evangelia L. , 2022. "Assessing Spatial Variability of Soil Properties in Mediterranean Smallholder Farming Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:4:p:557-:d:790401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salar Rezapour & P. Kouhinezhad & A. Samadi, 2020. "Trace metals toxicity in relation to long-term intensive agricultural production in a calcareous environment with different soil types," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 100(2), pages 551-570, January.
    2. Mohamed S. Metwally & Sameh M. Shaddad & Manqiang Liu & Rong-Jiang Yao & Ahmed I. Abdo & Peng Li & Jiaoguo Jiao & Xiaoyun Chen, 2019. "Soil Properties Spatial Variability and Delineation of Site-Specific Management Zones Based on Soil Fertility Using Fuzzy Clustering in a Hilly Field in Jianyang, Sichuan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Rita Biasi & Roberta Farina & Elena Brunori, 2021. "Family Farming Plays an Essential Role in Preserving Soil Functionality: A Study on Active Managed and Abandoned Traditional Tree Crop-Based Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Dinesh Panday & Bijesh Maharjan & Devraj Chalise & Ram Kumar Shrestha & Bikesh Twanabasu, 2018. "Digital soil mapping in the Bara district of Nepal using kriging tool in ArcGIS," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, October.
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    1. Ioanna Efthimiou & Dimitris Vlastos & Vassilios Triantafyllidis & Maria Antonopoulou, 2022. "Kastoria and Mikri Prespa Lakes: The Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Differentiation in the Genotoxic and Toxic Profile of the Surface Water," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.

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