Shallow Vertical Magnetic Susceptibility Profiles for Exploring Soil Discrimination across Multiple Locations Using Statistical and Geostatistical Methods

Magnetic susceptibility is a widely used non-destructive proxy for soil characterisation. In this study, shallow vertical magnetic susceptibility profiles were analysed to explore their potential for soil discrimination across multiple locations representing different environmental settings. Magnetic susceptibility was measured in situ down to a depth of 30 cm, providing high-resolution vertical profiles.

The analysis focused on vertical patterns and variability of magnetic susceptibility along the soil profile. A combination of descriptive statistics and geostatistical parameters, as well as multivariate analysis, was applied to assess similarities and differences among soil profiles from different locations. The applied methodology aimed to evaluate the reliability and applicability of magnetic susceptibility as a proxy for comparative soil analysis.

The results show that shallow vertical magnetic susceptibility profiles exhibit substantial variability among profiles and locations, allowing for the identification of characteristic vertical patterns and differences between locations. Geostatistical parameters provided additional insight into the spatial organisation of magnetic susceptibility along the vertical axis, supporting the interpretation of profile variability.

The study demonstrates that shallow vertical magnetic susceptibility profiles can support comparative analysis of soils across multiple locations, while also highlighting the limitations of using magnetic susceptibility alone for soil discrimination.