In a soil survey, a detailed description of a set of soil properties is important for analyzing and understanding the interactions of several soil forming processes. Thus, multivariate analysis may be an important statistical tool to better interpret and understand the relationships and similarities between pedons. The aim of this study was to differentiate and group similar pedons based on physical and chemical properties using multivariate statistics. The study was carried out in Lages, SC, Brazil, at 27º 48' S latitude and 50º 20' W longitude, with an average altitude of 916 m and a humid mesothermal climate. Seven Inceptisol pedons developed from siltstones were described and collected in a detailed soil survey for conservation planning, based on land use capability. The chemical and physical properties analyzed were particle size, bulk density, porosity, aggregate stability in water, organic carbon content, P, Al, K, Na, Ca, Mg, and active and potential acidity. Soil variables were evaluated using factor and cluster analysis. From these analyses, it was possible to group the pedons based on their chemical and physical properties and identify which of them were determinant in discriminating these profiles. Thus, it was possible to better understand the intrinsic nature of correlations between physical and chemical soil properties, demonstrating that multivariate analysis is an effective tool in establishing these soil groups.
soil properties; cluster analysis; factor analysis
