SPATIAL TRENDS IN THE TEXTURE, MOISTURE-CONTENT, AND PH OF A VIRGINIACOASTAL-PLAIN SOIL

Soil texture, moisture content, and pH data from an agricultural field area of 48 x 32 m in a Suffolk sandy loam soil in the Virginia Coasta l Plain was examined for spatial trends. Trend surface analysis of san d, silt, and clay content data (n = 35) found that 68%, 74%, and 31% o f the total variability In sand, silt, and clay content, respectively, was explained by second-order trend surfaces. Soil moisture content a nd pH also exhibited spatial trends, which resulted in statistically s ignificant differences between subsurface moisture content and pH in t wo 18 x 27 m subplots within the study area. Both moisture content and pH trends had some similarity to the trend for clay content. The spat ial trends in these soil properties, however did not translate directl y into spatial trends in depth to center of bromide mass, indicating t he influence of other factors in the variability of chemical distribut ion in the soil.