Utilizing On-the-Go Soil Sensors to Explore Correlations between Electrical Conductivity, Soil Reflectance, Slope, and Elevation of Mississippi Farm Soils

Abstract

Ten physical and environmental variables collected from an on-the-go soil sensor at two field sites (MF3E and MF11S) in Mississippi, USA, were analyzed to assess soil variability and the interrelationships among the measurements. At MF3E, moderate variability was observed in apparent electrical conductivity shallow (EC as ), slope, and EC a ratio measurements, with coefficients of variation ranging from 20% to 27%. In contrast, MF11S exhibited higher variability, particularly in EC as and EC ad (deep) measurements, which exceeded 30% in their coefficient of variation values, indicating significant differences in soil composition and moisture content. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between the near-infrared-to-red ratio and red reflectance (r = 0.897 *** ) soil values at MF3E. MF11S demonstrated a strong negative correlation between EC as and EC ad readings with the x-coordinate (r < −0.7 *** ). Scatter plots and fitted models illustrated the complexity of relationships, with many showing nonlinear trends. These findings emphasize the need for continuous monitoring and advanced modeling to understand the dynamic nature of soil properties and their implications for agricultural practices. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms driving variability in the soil characteristics to enhance soil management strategies at the study sites.