Quantifying spatial variability of selected soil trace elements and their scaling relationships using multifractal techniques

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 9;8(7):e69326. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069326. Print 2013.

Abstract

Multifractal techniques were utilized to quantify the spatial variability of selected soil trace elements and their scaling relationships in a 10.24-ha agricultural field in northeast China. 1024 soil samples were collected from the field and available Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were measured in each sample. Descriptive results showed that Mn deficiencies were widespread throughout the field while Fe and Zn deficiencies tended to occur in patches. By estimating single multifractal spectra, we found that available Fe, Cu and Zn in the study soils exhibited high spatial variability and the existence of anomalies ([α(q)max-α(q)min]≥0.54), whereas available Mn had a relatively uniform distribution ([α(q)max-α(q)min]≈0.10). The joint multifractal spectra revealed that the strong positive relationships (r≥0.86, P<0.001) among available Fe, Cu and Zn were all valid across a wider range of scales and over the full range of data values, whereas available Mn was weakly related to available Fe and Zn (r≥0.18, P<0.01) but not related to available Cu (r = -0.03, P = 0.40). These results show that the variability and singularities of selected soil trace elements as well as their scaling relationships can be characterized by single and joint multifractal parameters. The findings presented in this study could be extended to predict selected soil trace elements at larger regional scales with the aid of geographic information systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Copper
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Iron
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Spatial Analysis*
  • Trace Elements / analysis
  • Trace Elements / chemistry*
  • Zinc

Substances

  • Soil
  • Trace Elements
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Zinc

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41201212), the National Food Production Project of China (2011BAD16B12) and the National Major Technology Program of China (2012BAD09B02). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.