APPLICATION OF SOIL-VEGETATION CORRELATION TO OPTIMAL RESOLUTION MAPPING OF SOLONETZIC RANGELAND

An optimal resolution surveying technique was developed and tested in the solonetzic grassland of Hortobagy, Hungary. Indication of soil pro perties by vegetation is utilized to create a sampling design by apply ing a satellite image of the pilot area and to estimate soil propertie s on the basis of the statistical correlation between vegetation and s oil data. The spatial sampling scheme was designed in accordance with the local heterogeneity of the satellite image. In order to study the predictability of the vegetation categories in terms of soil chemical properties, discriminant analysis was used with pH, electrical conduct ivity, and sodium activity at three depths, used as grouping variables . Based on the taxonomy of vegetation types, about two-thirds of the c ases can be classified and correlated with the soil chemical propertie s.