With all the qualifications noted above - and especially noting the limited applicability of pedotransfer functions to soils that differ from those used to originally estimate the PTF, we have found the Saxton-Rawls PTF to be quite useful as a starting point in "planning level" estimation of BD:  file:///C:/Users/ss/Downloads/Soil%20Water%20Characteristics-Paper.pdf

.  As implemented in the stand alone Soil Characteristics Calculator or as part of the SPAW model, (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national//?&cid=stelprdb1045331)

it has a convenient parameterization  to adjust the PTF functions to account for compaction both greater and less than "native" bulk density.

Bulk density is negatively and significantly correlated to organic carbon content of soils. Several models for predicting bulk density from soil organic carbon had been reported. However, the applicability of such model to specific purpose and situation needs careful observations and judgment. The accuracy of such prediction is highly influenced by land use, cropping intensity vis-a-vis crop management practices, and some other soil parameters (for example content of CaCO3 or soluble salts etc). Recent work on predicting bulk density from dielectric properties of soil had also been reported. The following articles may provide useful clue to further review of literature for answer to the question:

http://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/publications/forets/connaissances/recherche/Perie-Catherine/Can-jour-soil-sci-88-315-325.pdf

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1401&context=natrespapers

http://www.scielo.cl/pdf/chiljar/v76n1/15.pdf

http://dspace.emu.ee/bitstream/handle/10492/2502/Elsa_Putku_DO2016.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Depend on the nature of your data. I suggest you some references according to the spatial data. In these cases, the results using the regression-kriging and random forest are "good" (I always recomend to review the soil predictions locally).

Reference:

Boehner, J. and Selige, T. (2006): Spatial prediction of soil attributes using terrain analysis and climate regionalisation. In: Boehner, J., McCloy, K.R., Strobl, J. [Ed.]: SAGA - Analysis and Modelling Applications, Goettinger Geographische Abhandlungen, Goettingen: 13-28.

Hengl T, Heuvelink GBM, Kempen B, Leenaars JGB, Walsh MG, Shepherd KD, et al. (2015) Mapping Soil Properties of Africa at 250 m Resolution: Random Forests Significantly Improve Current Predictions. PLoS ONE 10(6): e0125814

A couple of older publications from UK may help

Stewart et al 1970. journal of soil sci 21 248-255 and Adams W A 1973 Journal of Soil Sci 24, 10-17

 As understand,soil organic matter may significantly influence bulk density of soil.But it would be difficult to predict bulk density from soil organic matter as several other factors also influence bulk density of soil (Dr.Borah has listed the factors).The factors which influence soil structure may also affect the bulk density.Review in the thesis cited by Dr.Borah(last reference attached) may be consulted.The table 1 gives particulars of several properties of soil included in models in addition to organic matter.

Dr Subba Rao is correct - the pedo-transfer functions are based on a number of assumptions that must be taken into account when considering the limitations of calculated values. The importance/significance of the limitations really depend on what the data is being used for.  If the BD is being used in modelling, some sensitivity analysis (looking at the influence on model output from small changes to BD value) would determine if accuracy it is critical or not. If BD has a string influence, then it may be worth generating rather than calculating data. One other possible application - the deviation of field data from "theoretical" (calculated) values might also tell you something about relative compaction/degradation.

Dr.Andrew Butler,good observations.

Dear Ana,

I wish to inform you that Perie and Ouimet (2008) established relationships between soil organic matter (SOM) and bulk density (BD) in acidic loamy to sandy loam fine fractions of forest soils in Quebec (Canada). They found soil BD to be strongly related to SOM (r2 = 0.81). For detailed information, you may go through the following article. For your easy access, I attach herewith PDF copy of the article.

Périé C and Ouimet R (2008) Organic carbon, organic matter and bulk density relationships in boreal forest soils. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 88(3): 315-325.

Hope you find this input interesting and useful.

Thank you everyone for your comments!

The suggested publications have been very useful. Now i have many functions to estimate BD from my observed OM data 

Best wishes to all!

 With all the qualifications noted above - and especially noting the limited applicability of pedotransfer functions to soils that differ from those used to originally estimate the PTF, we have found the Saxton-Rawls PTF to be quite useful as a starting point in "planning level" estimation of BD:  file:///C:/Users/ss/Downloads/Soil%20Water%20Characteristics-Paper.pdf

.  As implemented in the stand alone Soil Characteristics Calculator or as part of the SPAW model, (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national//?&cid=stelprdb1045331)

it has a convenient parameterization  to adjust the PTF functions to account for compaction both greater and less than "native" bulk density.

Ooops.  Correct urls  for Saxton & Rawls  pts  are:

 https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/sssaj/abstracts/70/5/1569

and

http://hydrolab.arsusda.gov/soilwater/Index.htm

 You can also refer to the attached

Article Variation of soil bulk density on slopes in the rocky mounta...

Article Estimating soil bulk density with information metrics of soil texture

Hello, 

I looked into this some time ago for forest soils, see attached. There may be references in there that can help you get started. Best, 

Stephanie

Article Depth Distribution and Predictors of Soil Organic Carbon in ...

Thank you also to Stuart S. Schwartz, Agevi Humphrey and Stephanie Grand for your suggestions. All these references have been very enriching!

Ana,

You can take a look to this paper

Spatial and temporal dynamics of soil organic carbon in landscapes of the upper Blue

Nile Basin of the Ethiopian Highlands.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Volume 218, 15 February 2016, Pages 190-208

Assefa Abegaz, Leigh A. Winowiecki, Tor-G. Vågen, Simon Langan, Jo U. Smith

As I understand it would be difficult to estimate B.D from organic matter alone.But one can develop relationships between B.D and texture and organic matter.

I have comeacross a paper where it is possible to predict B.D from  soil organic matter.But the relatioship may not work every where.But it may work in acidic loamy to sandy loam fine fractions of forest soils.I think such relations need to be established for agricultural soils with good/sufficient number of samples. I have seen two more papers from India-one agricultural area and another from agriculture and other land uses.In both papers organic matter showed good relations with B.D.Texture or contents of clay and sand also  had significant relations with B.D.

Organic carbon,organic matter and bulk density relationships in boreal forest soils. Perie,C. and Quimet,R  2008 Can.J. Soil Sci.88:315-325

http://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/publications/forets/connaissances/recherche/Perie-Catherine/Can-jour-soil-sci-88-315-325.pdf

Relation of soil bulkdensity with texture,total organic matter content and porosity in the soils of Kandi area of Kashmir,India Tanveera,A. et al .International Research Journal of Earth Science,4(1) :1-6.

http://www.isca.in/EARTH_SCI/Archive/v4/i1/1.ISCA-IRJES-2015-015.pdf

Soil bulk density as related to soil texture,organic matter content and available total nutrients of Coimbatore soil . Chaudhari,P.R. et al.International Journal of Scientific and Research publications 3:(2) Feb.2013.

http://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0213/ijsrp-p1439.pdf