Geostatistical evalutation of heavy metals in Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains of north west India
by
M. S. Grewal
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University - Hisar- 125 004 Indis
Coauthors: M.S. Kuhad, R.C. Hasija

Spatial dependence of heavy metals like manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Cadmium (Cd) was measured using geostatistical technique in large land areas of Indo-gangetic alluvial plains. Four hundred and seventy soil samples were drawn at 10 km x 10 km grid nodes throughout the Haryana State. The coefficient of variation (C.V.) of Mn, Ni, Cu and Cd were 44.52, 57.94, 48.77 and 61.95 %, respectively. The variability of these metals was expressed by Exponential (Mn & Cd), Gaussiun (Ni) and Spherical (Cu) models. The estimates of mean by point kriging, block kriging and classical technique were more or less same. The block kriging variances were 9.94 (Mn), 4.41 (Ni), 8.30 (Cu) and 6.67 (Cd) times less than the classical variances. The sample size by block kriging was very small compared to classical technique and point kriging methods.

Date received: January 28, 2002