A GIS-Based Systematic Soil Sampling Approach Using Landscape Ecological Units (LEUs) for Soil Characterization in Alipurduar District, West Bengal, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2026.v11.n04.012Keywords:
Soil Sampling, Landscape Ecological Units (LEU), Geographic Information System (GIS), Spatial VariabilityAbstract
Soil sampling plays a crucial role in accurate soil characterization and sustainable land resource management, particularly in regions exhibiting significant spatial variability. The present study proposes a GIS-based systematic soil sampling approach using Landscape Ecological Units (LEUs) for improved representation of soil variability in Alipurduar District. The study integrates key environmental parameters, including Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), slope, and physiography, derived through Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System techniques, to delineate homogeneous ecological units. The resulting LEUs effectively capture the spatial heterogeneity of the landscape by reflecting variations in terrain, land use, and geomorphological conditions. Compared to conventional sampling methods such as random, grid-based, and stratified approaches, the LEU-based framework provides a more process-oriented and representative sampling design. This method reduces redundancy in homogeneous areas while ensuring adequate sampling in heterogeneous zones, thereby improving sampling efficiency and accuracy. The results demonstrate that soil variability in the study area is strongly influenced by physiographic transitions from plains to piedmont and hilly regions. The LEU-based sampling approach aligns sampling strategies with natural environmental variability, leading to more reliable soil characterization. Overall, the study highlights the effectiveness of integrating geospatial techniques with process-based sampling design, offering a scientifically robust, cost-effective, and scalable methodology for soil sampling in heterogeneous landscapes.
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