Digital mapping of soil pH and carbonates at the European scale using environmental variables and machine learning

Soil pH and carbonates (CaCO3) are important indicators of soil chemistry and fertility, and the prediction of their spatial distribution is critical for the agronomic and environmental management. Digital soil mapping (DSM) techniques are widely accepted for the geospatial analysis of the soil properties. They are rapid and cost-efficient approaches that can provide quantitative prediction. However, the digital mapping of soil pH and CaCO3 are not well studied, especially at a continental scale. In this research, we mapped the soil pH and CaCO3 at the European scale using multisource environmental variables and machine learning approaches. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products, terrain attributes, and climatic variables were considered. Meanwhile, nine machine learning algorithms, namely, three linear and six nonlinear models, were used for the spatial prediction of soil pH and CaCO3. The land use and cover area frame statistical survey (LUCAS) 2015 topsoil dataset provided by the European Soil Data Centre was utilised. The performances of different models were compared and analysed in terms of coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and ratio of performance to deviation (RPD). Specifically, nonlinear machine learning models outperformed the linear ones, and extremely randomized trees (ERT) gave the most satisfactory result for soil pH (R2 = 0.70, RMSE = 0.75, and RPD = 1.84) and CaCO3 (R2 = 0.53, RMSE = 93.49 g/kg, and RPD = 1.46). The results revealed that MODIS products and climatic variables were important in predicting soil pH and CaCO3. Moreover, spatial distribution of soil pH and CaCO3 in Europe were mapped at 250 m resolution, and the areas with high CaCO3 content always showed high soil pH value.