Soil nutrients deficiencies are one of the major causes of soil degradation in different parts of World, adversely impacting crop production. Delineation of soil nutrients management zones (MZs) is one of the commonly used techniques for evaluating spatial distribution pattern of soil parameters for adoption of site‐specific nutrient management. We, therefore, conducted the present study to understand the spatial distribution pattern of soil nutrients and their associated soil properties, and to delineate soil nutrients MZs in a north‐western Indian Himalayan (NWIH) region. A total of 18,930 representative surface (0–15 cm depth) soil samples were collected and processed. The processed soil sample were analyzed for pH, and electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), available N (AN), available P (AP), available potassium (AK), exchangeable Ca (Ex. Ca), exchangeable Mg (Ex. Mg), available S (AS), available Zn (AZn), available Fe (AFe), available Cu (ACu), available Mn (AMn) and available B (AB). The values of studied soil parameters varied widely with coefficient of variation ranging from 11.8% to 156%. Semivariogram analysis revealed stable, exponential and Gaussian best‐fit models for different soil parameters with weak (AP and AB), moderate (rest of soil parameters) and strong (AS) spatial dependence. Varied distribution pattern of soil parameters was visualized from ordinary kriging interpolation. Five soil nutrient management zones (MZs) were identified (using fuzzy performance index and normalized classification entropy values) by employing the techniques of principal component analysis and fuzzy c‐means clustering. Principal components with Eigen value > 1 were considered for further analysis. The soil parameters of identified MZs differed significantly. Thus, the study highlighted the usefulness of MZ delineation technique for site‐specific soil nutrient management in different cultivated areas for sustainable crop production. The developed MZ maps could suitably be used for efficient management of agronomic inputs especially fertilizer nutrients for improved environmental and economic efficiency.

中文翻译：

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划定管理区，进行针对特定地点的土壤养分管理，促进可持续作物生产


土壤养分缺乏是世界不同地区土壤退化的主要原因之一，对作物生产产生不利影响。土壤养分管理区 （MZ） 的划定是评估土壤参数空间分布模式以采用特定地点养分管理的常用技术之一。因此，我们进行了本研究，以了解土壤养分的空间分布模式及其相关的土壤特性，并描绘了印度喜马拉雅山脉西北部 （NWIH） 地区的土壤养分 MZs。共收集和处理了 18,930 个具有代表性的表面（0-15 厘米深）土壤样本。分析处理后的土壤样品的 pH 值和电导率 （EC）、土壤有机碳 （SOC）、速效氮 （AN）、速效磷 （AP）、速效钾 （AK）、交换性钙 （Ex. Ca）、交换性镁 （Ex. Mg）、速效硫 （AS）、速效锌 （AZn）、速效铁 （AFe）、速效铜 （ACu）、速效锰 （AMn） 和速效硼 （AB）。研究的土壤参数值变化很大，变异系数在 11.8% 到 156% 之间。半变异函数分析揭示了不同土壤参数的稳定、指数和高斯最佳拟合模型，具有弱 （AP 和 AB） 、中等 （其余土壤参数） 和强 （AS） 空间依赖性。通过普通克里金插值法可视化土壤参数的变化分布模式。通过采用主成分分析和模糊 c 均值聚类技术，确定了 5 个土壤养分管理区 （MZ） （使用模糊性能指数和归一化分类熵值）。考虑使用特征值 > 1 的主成分进行进一步分析。 鉴定的 MZs 的土壤参数差异显著。因此，该研究强调了 MZ 划定技术在不同耕地进行特定地点土壤养分管理以实现可持续作物生产的有用性。开发的 MZ 地图可以适当地用于农艺投入，尤其是肥料养分的有效管理，以提高环境和经济效率。