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International Agrophysics |
publisher: | Institute of Agrophysics
Polish Academy of Sciences
Lublin, Poland |
ISSN: |
0236-8722 |
vol. 20, nr. 4 (2006)
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Fractal scaling of soil particles in agricultural landscapes of Nigerian savannas
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F.K. Salako
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Department of Soil Science and Land Management, College of Plant Science and Crop Production, University of Agriculture,
PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
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vol. 20 (2006), nr. 4,
pp. 337-344
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abstract
Fractal dimensions, D, for soil profiles in the
derived and southern Guinea savanna zones of Nigeria were
calculated using particle size distribution data. The D values
increased with soil depth because of increasing silt and clay with
the depths. Thus, D values were significantly correlated with soil
particles; negative correlation with coarse particles and positive
correlation with fine particles. In the derived savanna, D values
ranged from 2.650 to 3.196 whereas in the southern Guinea
savanna they ranged from 2.971 to 3.498. Thus, the soils in the
derived savanna conformed more with expected fractal scaling of
D < 3 than the soils in the southern Guinea savanna. Nonetheless,
the results showed that fractal scaling distinguished the differences
in particle size distributions between the two agroecological zones
and was, therefore, a sensitive approach for characterization of
particle size distribution in the savanna. Fractal scaling also
showed the differences between particle size distributions along
toposequences.
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keywords
soil profile, particle size distribution, fractal
scaling, savanna
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