Soil properties as influenced by elevation: A factor analysis

Abstract

Soil properties in 0-100 cm layer of three different elevations, 150 (E,), 750 (E2) and 1450 (E,) m asl were subjected to factor analysis. Out of the nine variables studied viz., gravel, sand, pH, water holding capacity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, total N, P and S, factor analysis identified three factors in E, and E, and two factors in E, in the 0-100 cm layer. In E, and E, three factors accounted for 70% and 78% variations, respectively while in E; two factors accounted for 67% variation.