The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial variability of chemical attributes of an Oxisol. The experiment was conducted with Coffea arabica L., variety Catuai, at a depth of 0-0.2 m in a grid area totaling 50 points. The studied chemical attributes were: P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Al, pH, H + Al, SB, t, T, V, m, MO, ISNa, equilibrium P and micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B). The data were analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis, followed by principal component with subsequent cluster analysis. The existence of spatial dependence was verified and the degree quantified using the principal components and geostatistics. The method of multivariate analysis based on principal components provided interpretable components; the first were correlated with acidity and the second with soil organic matter. Techniques of multivariate analysis, in combination with geostatistics, facilitated the evaluation of soil variability. The principal components 1 and 2 indicated moderate spatial dependence, with greater spatial continuity in component 1, which allowed a better characterization of soil acidity. Reduced availability of soil nutrients and considerable acidity were observed along the slope, lower levels of organic matter in the center of the area and high Al contents in the upper part.
Principal components; cluster analysis; kriging
