@article{fdi:010069459,
  title = {{S}patial variability of soil aggregate stability at the scale of an agricultural region in {T}unisia},
  author = {{A}nnabi, {M}. and {R}aclot, {D}amien and {B}ahri, {H}. and {B}ailly, {J}. {S}. and {G}omez, {C}{\'e}cile and {L}e {B}issonnais, {Y}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}oil aggregate stability is a key factor in soil resistance to water erosion, which is a threat to soils in a large part of northern {T}unisia. {T}he analysis of the spatial variability of soil aggregate stability provides both agronomic and environmentally useful information. {H}owever, extensive measurements of soil aggregate stability remain tedious and expensive. {T}his study explores two different approaches as alternative to measurements of soil aggregate stability. {O}ne approach estimated aggregate stability via laboratory measurements of soil elementary properties using multiple linear regressions known as pedotransfer functions. {T}he second approach, which is methodologically innovating, was based on the geological pattern as a proxy for aggregate stability using regression-kriging analysis. {A} set of 113 soil samples from an 800 km(2) agricultural region that included the {L}ebna watershed ({C}ap {B}on, {T}unisia) were collected from the soil surface layer (0-10 cm depth). {S}amples were analyzed for elementary properties (i.e., soil texture, total {C}arbon and nitrogen, iron, {C}a{CO}3, salinity, {CEC} and p{H}) and for soil aggregate stability according to the normalized method ({ISO}/{DIS} 10930, 2012), which considers three indexes ({MWD}) calculated for three contrasted wetting conditions and disruptive energies. {M}ost soils in the study area were non-salted with an alkaline p{H} and relatively low organic carbon content. {O}f the soils, 35% were clay soils, and 55% had a balanced soil texture. {T}he average of the three soil aggregate stability indexes ({MWD}mean,) ranged from 038 to 2.80 mm, and this property showed large variability from instable soils to very stable ones. {A}nalysis of pedotransfer functions determined that the best predictor variables for soil aggregate stability were silt, organic matter and iron. {G}eostatistical analyses at the regional scale showed spatially structured soil aggregate stability (variograms with sills reaching a 5 km distance). {U}sing geological information as ancillary data, the prediction of soil aggregate stability with regression-kriging was similar to that of pedotransfer functions. {A} regression-kriged map of soil aggregate stability associated with a map of prediction uncertainties was developed. {T}he resulting maps and methods of this study can be useful in the development of management options that minimize water erosion risks in the studied area.},
  keywords = {{S}oil aggregate stability ; {S}patial organization ; {P}edotransfer function ; {R}egression-kriging analysis ; {T}unisia ; {TUNISIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}atena},
  volume = {153},
  numero = {},
  pages = {157--167},
  ISSN = {0341-8162},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.catena.2017.02.010},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010069459},
}