Determination of Spatial Variability of Soil Characteristics under Utilization Intensities (Case study: Baladeh Basin of Noor)

Lands unsuitable use effects on vegetation and spatial variability of soil characteristics. In this regard, geostatistics method according to the modeling of factors cause to better evaluation of the parameters. Therefore, this research was investigated the role of the utilization on soil parameters changes as suitable tools for management in Baladeh basin in central Elborz mountains. The different utilization intensities as critical, key and reference sites were selected based on proximity to water sources and traffic routes. The sampling was done by systematic method by five transects 100cm in each site after determination of plant types. The points of transects intersection was obtained as sampling points (25 points) and soil samples was taken from the surface layer (0-10cm). Then, soil factors such as OC, N, P, K, pH and EC was measured in lab. Soil spatial variability was done by geostatistics method and GS+ 5 (Gamma Design Software) software. The results showed that OC and N were decreased due to utilization intensity in critical sites but pH was increased. Also, geostatistics analysis showed that spatial variation of soil parameters were more in critical sites to other sites due to destroyer effect of utilization and the spatial dependence in this site was less too.