Studies on the spatial variation of soil properties associated with the response of crop yields may contribute to a rational application of inputs, enabling economic and environmental gains. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the variability and spatial correlations among soil Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and organic matter contents and yield of black pepper grown on a Yellow-Red Latosol. The study was carried out on a black pepper plantation under microsprinkler irrigation, in São Mateus, State of Espirito Santo, Brazil. The experimental area was 100 x 120 m (12.000 m²). Soil was collected from under the tree canopies in the 0-0.20 m layer, in a grid with minimum distances of 5 m, totaling 126 soil samples. The black pepper production was estimated by harvesting the three plants nearest to each sample point. All measurable semivariogram properties were satisfactorily described by spherical models with a moderate and strong spatial structure. There was a negative spatial correlation between soil Fe content and yield black pepper and positive spatial correlation among Zn, Mn and organic matter contents and black pepper yield.
Piper nigrum L.; geostatistics; soil plant nutrition
