Uncertainty assessment of a soil quality index using geostatistics

The soil quality in the Asa-Picentino-Tusciano rivers basin (Campania region, southern Italy) was assessed through a novel synthetic, highly informative numerical index. The study area is characterized by a wide spatial heterogeneity. A combined approach, based on geostatistics linked with GIS techniques, was applied to estimate the spatial index and also provide an assessment of estimation uncertainty. The geostatistics-based approach, described in this work, might be advantageously used to direct sampling and/or delineate fertility capability zones in decision making and land use planning. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd