Spatial multi-scale variability of soil nutrients in relation to environmental factors in a typical agricultural region, Eastern China

► Sources of spatial variability and deficiency risk of soil nutrients were studied. ► FKA results indicated that correlations among the nutrients depended on spatial scales. ► OC and TN shared the same dominating factor at short range. ► Long-range variation of all nutrients was controlled by parent material. ► High deficiency risk was located at the northwestern and eastern study parts.