Spatial soil zinc content distribution from terrain parameters: A GIS-based decision-tree model in Lebanon

Kheir, Rania Bou; Greve, Mogens H.; Abdallah, Chadi; Dalgaard, Tommy

Spatial soil zinc content distribution from terrain parameters: A GIS-based decision-tree model in Lebanon

2010

Kheir, Rania Bou | Greve, Mogens H. | Abdallah, Chadi | Dalgaard, Tommy

Heavy metal contamination has been and continues to be a worldwide phenomenon that has attracted a great deal of attention from governments and regulatory bodies. In this context, our study proposes a regression-tree model to predict the concentration level of zinc in the soils of northern Lebanon (as a case study of Mediterranean landscapes) under a GIS environment. The developed tree-model explained 88% of variance in zinc concentration using pH (100% in relative importance), surroundings of waste areas (90%), proximity to roads (80%), nearness to cities (50%), distance to drainage line (25%), lithology (24%), land cover/use (14%), slope gradient (10%), conductivity (7%), soil type (7%), organic matter (5%), and soil depth (5%). The overall accuracy of the quantitative zinc map produced (at 1:50.000 scale) was estimated to be 78%. The proposed tree model is relatively simple and may also be applied to other areas. GIS regression-tree analysis explained 88% of the variability in field/laboratory Zinc concentrations.

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