Understanding spatial variability of soil properties: a key step in establishing field‐ to farm‐scale agro‐ecosystem experiments

RATIONALE The spatial variability of soil properties is poorly understood, despite its importance in designing appropriate experimental sampling strategies. As preparation for a farm-scale agro-ecosystem services monitoring project, the 'North Wyke Farm Platform', there was a need to assess the spatial variability of key soil chemical and physical properties. METHODS The field-scale spatial variability of soil chemical (total N, total C, soil organic matter), soil physical properties (bulk density and particle size distribution) and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N values) was studied using geostatistical approaches in an intensively managed grassland. RESULTS The scales over which stable isotopes vary (ranges: 212–258 m) were larger than those of the total nutrients, soil organic matter and bulk density (ranges: 84–170 m). Two visually and statistically distinct areas of Great Field (north and south) were identified in terms of co-occurring high/low values of several soil properties. CONCLUSIONS The resulting patterns of spatial variability suggest lower spatial variability of stable isotopes than that of total nutrients, soil organic matter and bulk density. Future sampling regimes should be conducted in a grid with 5 years) on the patterns of spatial variability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.