Modeling Soil-Water Quality Interactions and Identifying Key Factors in Humid Aquaculture Areas Based on Random Forest Authors
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: In humid ecological areas, complex processes of material transfer and transformation occur between pond soil and water, which significantly influence water quality balance and the evolution of sediment-related environmental risks. This study selected three typical aquaculture ponds in Guigang City, Guangxi Province, and conducted high-frequency synchronized monitoring over 180 days. A total of 540 daily average datasets were obtained, covering seven key physical and chemical indicators, including soil moisture, pH, and organic matter content in the 0-10 cm bottom soil layer, as well as ammonia nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity in the water. A coupling model of soil and water quality factors was constructed using the Random Forest regression algorithm. The model achieved a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.87 for ammonia nitrogen concentration prediction. Mean Decrease in Impurity (MDI) and permutation importance analysis showed that soil moisture (32.4% contribution) and organic matter content (26.1% contribution) were the core influencing factors. The results indicate that nutrient release from wet soil during high-water periods is a key driver of water quality fluctuations. Based on this, the study proposes a scientific recommendation to establish a "soil-water coordinated dynamic regulation system.
Source: SSRN Electronic Journal
DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5386317
Authors: Weijun Zhu, Xinyi Liu, Chenghao Wang, Meilin Chen
Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7084130347