Assessing Organic Carbon Distribution in the Koiliaris Critical Zone Catchment (Greece) by Using Geostatistical Techniques

Abstract

Organic carbon amount of the soil is one of the most important geochemical parameters for defining soil characterization. It affects directly to the soil functions (biomass production, C sequestration, biodiversity, etc.) and problems about it may finalize as soil threats. Because of these reasons accuracy of the distribution assessment is an important topic. This study implemented in Koiliaris Catchment Critical Zone, in Greece with an aim of accurate and detailed assessment of organic carbon distribution. Slope and aspect from DEM; CORINE landcover classification; geological formations and WRB soil classification information were used as covariates in this study. All layers were in the raster format with 100m resolution and the sample points has measured organic carbon values from Crete University field work. Regression – Kriging geostatistical technique was used to be able to find the distribution of the organic carbon through the catchment. As a conclusion, significant correlation between the covariates and the organic carbon dependent variable was found and organic carbon distribution map of Koiliaris CZ was produced in the digital soil mapping perspective.