SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN THE HILLY AREA OF DEGRADATION PROCESS

ABSTRACT: The physical conditions of the soil are directly related to management practices and relief format. Lack of proper management can lead to soil erosion and consequent degradation of these areas. Currently, studies of spatial variability analysis to enable better decisions and resolutions of such problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the spatial variability of soil water infiltration, soil density and texture in the hilly area of the degradation process. The survey was conducted in the hilly area cultivated with grassland, located between Areia and Remigio, two towns from Paraíba state. The soil was sampled at the regular grid with mesh (20x20m) between sample points, making a total of 49 points, into two depths, 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, totaling 98 samples. The analyze of spatial variability was doing by semivariogram geostatistical analysis, with data interpolation by kriging and make maps. All of them physical attributes analyzed presents spatial dependence since no one showed pure nugget effect. It was verified through the maps that there was a very clear relationship between infiltration and other soil physical characteristics, observing this correlation mainly in the upper southwest slope.