Methodology for evaluating the soil properties by using magnetic susceptibility , applicable for the assessment of soil degradation due to water erosion

Abstract

This work has been supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic (Project No. QJ1230319, “Soil water regime within a sloping agricultural area”). The goal was to propose methodology for using the soil magnetic parameters for accessing soil properties and their spatial distribution within agricultural areas affected by water erosion. Methodology includes: choice of sampling design for target area (optimized based on other auxiliary data) and soil sampling (topsoil), soil sample processing (drying, grinding, sieving, etc.), method of magnetic susceptibility measurements (using Bartington MS2 and Kappametr SM400) and procedure to calibrate models of predicting soil properties from soil magnetic properties. Prediction of the oxidable organic carbon from the mass specific magnetic susceptibility determined in the laboratory is shown here as an example of practical application of this methodology for soil properties assessment in certain soil types. In addition close correlation between volume magnetic susceptibility measured directly in the field and mass specific magnetic susceptibility obtained in the laboratory documents that the oxidable organic carbon may be estimated directly from the field measurements