Assessing Spatial Variability of Soil Properties in Mediterranean Smallholder Farming Systems

Chariklia Kosma, Vassilios Triantafyllidis, Anastasios Zotos, Antonios Pittaras, Varvara Kouneli, Stella Karydogianni, Antonios Mavroeidis, Ioanna Kakabouki, Dimitrios Beslemes, Evangelia L. Tigka, Ioannis Roussis and Dimitrios Bilalis
Additional contact information
Chariklia Kosma: Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece
Vassilios Triantafyllidis: Department of Business Administration of Food & Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, G. Seferi 2, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
Anastasios Zotos: Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece
Antonios Pittaras: Department of Business Administration of Food & Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, G. Seferi 2, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
Varvara Kouneli: Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Stella Karydogianni: Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Antonios Mavroeidis: Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Ioanna Kakabouki: Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Beslemes: Research and Development Department, Alfa seeds ICSA, 10 km Mesorachis-Agiou Georgiou, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Evangelia L. Tigka: Institute of Soil and Water Resources, Department of Soil Science of Athens, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER, Sofokli Venizelou 1, 14123 Lykovrissi, Greece
Ioannis Roussis: Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Bilalis: Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Smallholder farming systems are typical of the European Mediterranean region. Small farms of less than 2 hectares cover approximately 15% of cropland in the southern EU and only 5% across the EU. The greater variability of cultivated species per unit of cropland (ha), the different approaches, and empirical application of cultivation practices by smallholder farmers increase the spatial variability of soil properties. Therefore, a decision support tool for effective management practices was formed based on a soil indicators set, which is sensitive to changes under agricultural management practices and different LUs. The data for this task were collected from 364 crop fields. The data were clustered and correlated based on (a) the existing soil units (SU): Fluvisols, Cambisols, Luvisols, and Calcisols, and (b) the LU: pastureland, annual, and permanent crops. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified up to seven main components that can better explain soil variability properties. The results indicated that the selected soil indicators can explain only 70.98% of soil variability. Clustering the parameters based on LU and SU can explain up to 80% and 82% of soil properties’ variability, respectively. Factor analysis could function as a decision support tool for soil fertility management by farmers or policy makers, who aim to achieve higher yields, promote sustainable practices, maintaining, at the same time, a low cost of cultivation.

Keywords: smallholder farming systems; spatial soil variability; land use; soil indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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