DEM
Digital Elevation Model
DMR
Department of Mineral Resources Bangkok
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
K
Potassium
m.a.s.l. Meter above sea level
OOB
Out Of Bag
PCA
Principal Component Analysis
PRA
Participatory Rural Appraisal
RSG
Reference Soil Group
SEA
Southeast Asia
eTh
Thorium equivalent
Th
Thorium
eU
Uranium equivalent
U
Uranium
WRB
World Reference Base for Soil Resources
2.1 The Need for Sound Soil Information in Mountainous
Tropical Areas
1
The quality and quantity of information on soils in the mountainous areas of
Southeast Asia (SEA) is still poor; therefore, the aim of soil research work must
be twofold: (1) to gain information about soils, in order to facilitate interdisciplinary research, and (2) to proactively improve soil analysis and soil monitoring
methods in order to try out new methods, those not yet applied in a given area.
To meet the first aim, our research developed a soil map for north-west Thailand at
a scale of 1:200,000 and specific soil maps for other key areas in SEA. With the
same aim, research into soil development in the limestone areas of SEA helped
improve soil knowledge, because soils and limestone are not found to a large extent
in other savannah regions of the world. Finally, in Vietnam, research was carried
out into the impacts of soil erosion on soil fertility, again with the first aim in mind.
For the second aim, methodological progress has been achieved through the use of
non-destructive gamma ray spectrometry, a method which can be used multiple
times and across spatial scales. Mapping has also been carried out in a number of
local areas in order to compare traditional ground-check methods with local
knowledge, statistical methods and digital soil mapping. The first aim is mainly
dedicated to the improvement of soil knowledge and to help with land use planning
in the uplands of SEA, while the second aim is focused on developing methods for
use in research across other areas.
1 This section was written by Karl Stahr with Ludger Herrmann, Ulrich Schuler and Gerhard
Clemens.
32
K. Stahr et al.
Digital Elevation Model
DMR
Department of Mineral Resources Bangkok
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
K
Potassium
m.a.s.l. Meter above sea level
OOB
Out Of Bag
PCA
Principal Component Analysis
PRA
Participatory Rural Appraisal
RSG
Reference Soil Group
SEA
Southeast Asia
eTh
Thorium equivalent
Th
Thorium
eU
Uranium equivalent
U
Uranium
WRB
World Reference Base for Soil Resources
2.1 The Need for Sound Soil Information in Mountainous
Tropical Areas
1
The quality and quantity of information on soils in the mountainous areas of
Southeast Asia (SEA) is still poor; therefore, the aim of soil research work must
be twofold: (1) to gain information about soils, in order to facilitate interdisciplinary research, and (2) to proactively improve soil analysis and soil monitoring
methods in order to try out new methods, those not yet applied in a given area.
To meet the first aim, our research developed a soil map for north-west Thailand at
a scale of 1:200,000 and specific soil maps for other key areas in SEA. With the
same aim, research into soil development in the limestone areas of SEA helped
improve soil knowledge, because soils and limestone are not found to a large extent
in other savannah regions of the world. Finally, in Vietnam, research was carried
out into the impacts of soil erosion on soil fertility, again with the first aim in mind.
For the second aim, methodological progress has been achieved through the use of
non-destructive gamma ray spectrometry, a method which can be used multiple
times and across spatial scales. Mapping has also been carried out in a number of
local areas in order to compare traditional ground-check methods with local
knowledge, statistical methods and digital soil mapping. The first aim is mainly
dedicated to the improvement of soil knowledge and to help with land use planning
in the uplands of SEA, while the second aim is focused on developing methods for
use in research across other areas.
1 This section was written by Karl Stahr with Ludger Herrmann, Ulrich Schuler and Gerhard
Clemens.
32
K. Stahr et al.