USE OF GEOSTATISTICS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF SOIL QUALITY: STATE OF THE ART
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18066/revistaunivap.v32i74.4730Keywords:
Soil Physics, Krigen, temporal variabilityAbstract
The objective of this study was to conduct a state-of-the-art review covering a 15-year period on the use of geostatistics in the assessment of soil physical quality and to identify possible gaps in the literature on this topic. The study was structured in three stages: topic definition, information extraction, and results analysis. The search was conducted on the WoSCC and CAPES platform, covering publications from 2010 to 2025. English terms were used to broaden the scope in high-impact journals, with a focus on scientific articles. The extracted data included metrics such as number of publications, authors, citations, and connections to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Analyses were organized in Excel. The bibliographic analysis identified 93 articles related to geostatistics, spatial variability, and soil physical quality, with Brazil standing out as responsible for 41.93% of the publications. The annual average was 4.3 studies from 2015 to 2025, peaking in 2022. Agricultural sciences accounted for 71.42% of the studies, with soil science being the most prominent field. The main journals were national, such as Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo (RBCS) and Engenharia Agrícola, and international, such as Catena and Geoderma. Most studies were aligned with the SDGs, especially Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture. Geostatistics has become a key tool in assessing soil physical quality, with Brazil playing a leading role in publications. Its application contributes to sustainable management and the optimization of natural resources. Nevertheless, greater technical training is needed to expand its use in a critical and effective manner.
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