Abstract
Soil catena can be characterized by some properties, such as drainage levels and soil textures. Characteristics of soil catena are different drainage levels from a summit to the direction of gravity and similar soil textures. Therefore this study was performed GIS (Geographic information system) and statistical analyses using perimeters from soil series in order to characterize quantitatively and objectively soil distributional properties in Korea. The total of 16 soil series from representative granite and granite gneiss originated soils were selected among inland soils from detailed soil maps (1:25,000 scale) in Rural Development Administration (RDA) and analyzed. After the detailed soil maps were merged by soil series unit, perimeters were measured from one soil series to neighboring soil series using functions of table join, merge, dissolve, buffer, and clip in ArcGIS (10.1). The covering ratio of each soil series unit was calculated from neighboring perimeters by soil series and applied to clustering analysis. Soils that were analyzed were the total of 16 soil series; 7 of sandy loam and 9 of clay loam. As a result, analyzed soil series adjoined complicatedly such as Hyocheon series adjoined 26 series and Jisan did 276 series. The results of the clustering analysis showed that soils were clustered by soil textures except a few soil series. This study applied only one property that was a length of neighboring soil series to GIS and statistical analyses. These results were compared to existing soil groups that were classified by new-soil taxonomy, texture, soil type and drainage level. It showed that these analyses can provide soil characteristics by soil texture. Based on this study, there is a need to investigate further objectively and quantitatively in statistical analyses of soil series.