Spatial and Temporal Statistics

"Spatial and Temporal Statistics - Sampling Field Soils and their Vegetation" is intended to introduce concepts and theories to scientists already familiar with classical statistics and one or more disciplines of agricultural science. Each chapter introduces one concept and its application to several sets of field-measured data. Rather to begin each chapter with rigorous assumptions coupled with a comprehensive theory and procedure, we introduce the concept with typical questions that may be answered by applying the concept to a set of observations. Examples of data from various field studies observed by colleagues and ourselves are used as a frame for explaining basic concepts of spatial statistics and how to apply them within and between fields. The original data, the analysis and the interpretation are followed by a discussion of issues and concerns associated with the underlying assumptions of the analysis. At the end of each chapter, the reader can select references that comprehensively describe the theoretical basis of the concept and limitations of its application. Like classical statistics, spatial and temporal statistical methods consist of tools only - no more, no less - and do not provide any miracle capable of replacing the ideas and creativity of the scientist.