Comparison of soil characteristics from two potato fields located in the same region of Portugal

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 soils chemical characteristics from two different locations in the same region of Western of Portugal (Lourinhã), intended for potato production. The soil was collected and analyzed for soil chemical properties (pH, electric conductivity, organic matter, and mineral element content). Through principal components analysis (PCA) was possible to identify that the interrelations among the mineral elements are explained in the projections of components 1 and 2 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 relatively to field A (except Cd) and showed that K, As, Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, and Pb are the most correlated with each other. Also, Ca e K 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 showed a significantly different content of organic matter and conductivity, where field B presented higher contents of both parameters. The obtained data are discussed, being concluded that the soils, despite being geographically close, have different relationships between elements and different content of organic matter and electrical conductivity, which may lead to differences in potato production.