Some aspects about the spatial dependence index for variability of soil attributes

ABSTRACT: The main purpose of this article was to evaluate the behavior and relationship of the range and components of SDI (Spatial Dependence Index) in general and in function of field factors such as soil types, type of attribute and soil layers. This evaluation was based on real data collected in national journals. It was noticed that the parameter range, in general and for different field factors, presented asymmetric positive behavior. The components of the SDI showed approximately symmetrical behavior. The SDI can capture the range behavior more intensely (the spatial variability behavior in the horizontal direction of the semivariogram), and, in a less intense way, the behavior of the contribution and sill parameters (the spatial dependence behavior in the vertical direction of the semivariogram). Thus, the SDI describes the behavior of spatial dependence of the total set of aspects of the semivariogram.