The intrinsic hypothesis is usually the most utilized because it is less restrictive compared to the other hypotheses of the geostatistics, requires only the existence and stationarity of the semivariogram, without any restriction as to the existence of finite variance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stationarity of humidity data in a Humiluvic Spodosol. Data were collected on a transect containing 128 points, spaced every 3 m. The soil water content was determined in the layers of 0-0.2 m, 0.2-0.4 m and 0.4-0.6 m. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the data presented lognormal frequency distribution. The moisture values varied with signage variations. There was stationarity of the semivariogram for the three studied depths. The analysis of fragments of the transect had stability of mean and semivariogram, confirming that stationarity is much more exception than rule, because the data as a whole also showed semivariograms well defined and without tendency.
geostatistics; soil physics; soil sampling
