Farmland soil nutrient distribution becoming more fragile on smaller scales.
Farmland soil nutrients vary on different scales, affecting farming efficiency. The study looked at available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on county, field, and block levels. Results showed moderate variation in all three nutrients across scales, with strong spatial patterns influenced by climate, soil type, and topography. As sampling scale decreased, nutrient variation increased at smaller scales, with spatial patterns becoming more pronounced and closer together. This suggests that nutrient distribution becomes more fragile at smaller scales. The study used multiple scales to gather comprehensive soil information, providing insights into farmland nutrient status and improving soil sampling effectiveness.