This study was carried out to identify, characterize and compare spatial structures of boron, copper, iron, manganese and zinc in a Dark-Red Latosol under crop field intensively managed for 14 years with a center pivot irrigation system in the Southern Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The soil sampling scheme, consisting of 132 systematic sampling, in which sampling points were located at regular intervals of 167 m, in such a way that it was possible to determine the soil variability at 1 m distance. The result showed that, with exception of the zinc, the intensive land use increased significantly the nutrients concentration in the upper layer, however it was insufficient to reach the critical level established for the region. About 95% of boron samples, 75% of copper samples, 95% of manganese samples and 1.5% of zinc samples presented values below the critical level. These values were differently distributed by the quadrants in the center pivot, showed that fertilizers application and /or soil tillage were not efficient to distribute and to homogenize the fertilizers.
geostatistics; precision agriculture
