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A profile cone penetrometer for mapping soil horizons
Author(s) -
Rooney D. J.,
Lowery B.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2000.6462136x
Subject(s) - penetrometer , soil map , digital soil mapping , soil horizon , soil science , environmental science , soil survey , scale (ratio) , sampling (signal processing) , geology , hydrology (agriculture) , computer science , geotechnical engineering , cartography , geography , soil water , computer vision , filter (signal processing)
Accurate soil mapping at a fine scale is needed for site‐specific farming, research on solute transport, and many other applications requiring detailed analysis of both the depth and thickness of soil horizons. Soil mapping techniques currently used are too costly to address the spatial variability of soil mapping units. We propose the use of a profile cone penetrometer (PCP) to assist in mapping soil properties at a landscape scale. Data collected with the PCP show clear changes in soil properties with depth, and were confirmed using profile descriptions from soil pits as well as 4.3‐cm‐diam soil cores. Combining three‐dimensional PCP data with soil attribute information will provide a rapid and effective means to digitally update soil surveys and improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of sampling techniques.