SCHRIFTENREIHE Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde ...

Chapter 2 Spatial variability of soil properties affected by grazing intensity in Inner Mongolia grassland
(r = -0.54**) and SOC (r = 0.73**) (Table 9). Unexpectedly, a negative correlation
between K and SWC (r = -0.74**) was observed. Generally, the reduced SWC at
grazed areas was attributed to the reduction of the infiltration as livestock
trampling compacted the soil surface (Naeth et al., 1991). This suggested that
the litter might play an important role in impeding water infiltration and
evaporation since there was a significant relationship between SWC and SOC (r
= 0.73**).
Table 2.9. Correlation matrix for the analyzed variables in the five plots.
Parameters Ln(K) Ln(WDPT) SS SWC Sand Silt SOC BD
Ln(K) 1
Ln(WDPT) -0.86** 1
SS 0.58** -0.68** 1
SWC -0.74** 0.52** -0.77** 1
Sand 0.41* -0.36** 0.78** -0.54** 1
Silt -0.32* 0.44** -0.80** 0.42** -0.95** 1
SOC -0.83** 0.79** -0.32* 0.73** -0.38** 0.46** 1
BD 0.51* -0.43** 0.48** -0.41** 0.28** -0.40** -0.94** 1
P