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  • Ana Rita F. Coelho; Diana Daccak; Ana Coelho Marques; Inês Carmo Luís; Cláudia Campos Pessoa; Maria Manuela Silva; Manuela Simões; Fernando H. Reboredo; Maria F. Pessoa; Paulo Legoinha; José C. Ramalho; Paula Scotti Campos; Isabel P. Pais; José N. Semedo; Fernando C. Lidon

    Chemistry Proceedings, 02/2022, Volume: 10, Issue: 1
    Conference Proceeding, Journal Article

    Soil is considered a highly complex ecosystem, providing food and maintaining crop and animal productivities. Soil variability can affect plant production. Accordingly, this study aimed to compare soil chemical characteristics from two different locations in the same region of western Portugal (Lourinhã), intended for potato production. Soil was collected and analyzed for soil chemical properties (pH, electric conductivity, organic matter, and mineral element content). Through a principal components analysis (PCA), it was possible to identify that the interrelations among the mineral elements were explained in the projections of components one and two for both fields. Regarding Field A, Ca, K, Fe, P, S, Mg, As, Pb, and Zn are more correlated with each other than the other mineral element (Cd). On the other hand, in Field B, all the mineral elements correlate differently compared to Field A (except Cd), and show that K, As, Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, and Pb are the most correlated with each other. Additionally, Fe and S are more correlated in Field A; however, in Field B, Fe and Zn are the ones that are more correlated with each other. Additionally, although both soils have the same pH (slightly basic soil—ideal for agriculture), they show a significantly different content of organic matter and conductivity, where Field B presents higher contents of both parameters. The obtained data are discussed, concluding that the soils, despite being geographically close, have different relationships between elements and different contents of organic matter and electrical conductivity, which may lead to differences in potato production.