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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
07:11
Sampling Soils in a Heterogeneous Research Plot
Published on: January 7, 2019
The effect of short-range spatial variability on soil sampling uncertainty.
Marcel Van der Perk1, Paolo de Zorzi, Sabrina Barbizzi
1Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.vanderperk@geo.uu.nl
Summary
Soil sampling uncertainty varies by environment. Agricultural soils show low uncertainty (1-5.5%), while semi-natural and contaminated sites have significantly higher variability and sampling uncertainties.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Soil elemental concentrations exhibit spatial variability at short ranges.
- Understanding this variability is crucial for accurate environmental assessments and resource management.
- Previous studies have highlighted variability but quantifying uncertainty across diverse environments is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify soil sampling uncertainty due to short-range spatial variability of elemental concentrations.
- To compare sampling uncertainties across agricultural, semi-natural, and contaminated topsoil environments.
Main Methods:
- Geostatistical analysis of elemental concentrations in topsoil samples.
- Calculation of relative standard sampling uncertainty for different site types.
- Comparative analysis of spatial variability and associated uncertainties.
Main Results:
- Agricultural sites: relative standard sampling uncertainty of 1-5.5%.
- Semi-natural sites: sampling uncertainties 2-4 times greater than agricultural sites.
- Contaminated sites: high spatial variability leading to 20-30% sampling uncertainties.
Conclusions:
- Short-range spatial variability significantly impacts soil sampling uncertainty.
- Contaminated and semi-natural environments require more intensive sampling strategies than agricultural lands.
- Accurate quantification of soil sampling uncertainty is essential for reliable environmental monitoring and risk assessment.
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