Integrating basic remote sensing, terrain analysis and geostatistical methods to generate spatially explicate continuous soil attribute maps for Fraser Experimental Forest

Hans Jenny's Factors of Soil Formation, a system of quantitative pedology (1941), concisely summarized and illustrated many of the basic principles of pedology utilized to date (Jenny, 1941). This state factor model became the backbone for soil survey research and production because it proposed that a limited number of environmental factors could largely explain the distribution of soils within and among ecosystems. Advances in soil chemistry, soil physics, soil mineralogy, and soil biology, as well as in the basic sciences have helped increase our fundamental understanding of the spatial distribution of soil. In addition, new tools and new dimensions to the study of soil formation have evolved with the increasing power and utility of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and geostatistical analysis to further quantify the complex spatial relationships of soils and landscapes. These advances have resulted in a new field of study termed pedometrics, which focuses on the application of mathematical and statistical methods for the study of the distribution and evolution of soils. This study implements pedometric principles and methods to develop high resolution and spatially explicate soil attribute maps for Fraser Experimental Forest (FEF) based on simple terrain, remote sensing and geostatistical analyses. The soil attribute models developed for this study provided a continuous representation of soil properties (Total soil depth, A-horizon and O-horizon thickness) at a fine scale (0.001 ha). These spatial models can be used as inputs to hydrological and ecological models to further evaluate the soil's influence on water chemistry and vegetation distributions, and to provide an initial platform for future soil survey activities in FEF. In addition to developing soil attribute surfaces for FEF, I tested the statistical, spatial and cost efficiencies of the Spatially Balances Survey (SBS) design developed to sample soils and inform the geostatistical models for FEF.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Soil and Crop Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Authors dc:creator

• Norman, John Barstow, author
• Kelly, Eugene F., advisor
• Rhoades, Chuck, committee member
• Reich, Robin M., committee member

• spatial analysis
• soil attribute surfaces
• geostatistics
• Soil management -- Geographic information systems -- Colorado -- Fraser Experimental Forest
• Soils -- Geographic information systems -- Colorado -- Fraser Experimental Forest
• Soil profiles -- Colorado -- Fraser Experimental Forest
• Soils -- Colorado -- Fraser Experimental Forest -- Maps
• Soils -- Colorado -- Fraser Experimental Forest -- Remote sensing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.018902

Identifier

ETDF2010300052SOCS

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/46015