Identifying Key Parameters Influencing Soil Quality at Various Depths in Tram Chim National Park, Dong Thap Province, Vietnam

This study used multivariate statistics including cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate the variability and key indicators causing changes in soil quality in Tram Chim National Park, Dong Thap province, Vietnam. Soil samples were collected in the dry season at the habitats of Ischaemum rugosum (CM), Panicum repens (CO), Nelumbo nucifera (LS), Eleocharis dulcis (NO), Oryza rufipogon (LM), Rice field (RL), Melaleuca cajuputi (T) in two layers: A (0–20 cm) and B (20–40 cm). The parameters of pH, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total acidity (TA), organic matter (OM), total iron (Fe) and exchanged aluminum (Al3+) were used to assess soil quality. The results showed that soil pH was low in both A and B layers. Fe and Al were both high, and the concentrations of these metals in layer A were higher than those in layer B. The OM content was medium while the TN and TP levels were very low. Most of the soil quality indicators tended to decrease with the depth (except for TA). The results of CA analysis showed that there was almost no major change in soil quality between the two soil layers; however, the soil quality in rice field habitat was different from other habitats. The cause may be due to human impact in adding fertilizers/pesticides during farming practices. The PCA results showed at least five influencing factors, explaining 99.7% and 99.9% of soil quality variation in A and B layers. The Al3+, TA, OM, and TP parameters had the main influence on the soil quality of layer A. Meanwhile, the pH, Al3+, TA, TN, Fet indicators had influence on the soil quality of layer B. These indicators need to be future surveyed to assess the evolution of soil quality in the study area.