Topography impact on nutrition content in soil and yield

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to determine the dependence of yield and selected soil properties on topography of the experimental field by using topographical data (elevation, slope and flow accumulation). The topography and yield data were obtained from a yield monitor for combine harvester, and soil properties data were taken from sampling points of our experimental field. Initially, the topographical parameters of elevation and slope were estimated and then the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) grid was created. On the basis of field slope the flow direction model and the flow accumulation model were created. The flow accumulation model, elevation and slope were then compared with the yield and content of nitrogen and organic carbon in soil in the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 in relation to the sum of precipitation and temperatures in crop growing seasons of these years. The correlation analysis of all previously mentioned elements was calculated and statistical evaluation proved a significant dependence of yield and soil nutrition content on flow accumulation. For the wettest evaluated year the correlation coefficient 0.25 was calculated, for the driest year it was 0.62.

Keywords

• precision agriculture
• topography
• gis
• flow accumulation
• yield
• nutrition content
• management zones