Using Geospatial Technologies to Separate Soil Units and Predict Some of Their Characteristics in Basra Governorate (Indices)

Abstract

This study was conducted to classify the soils of eastern Basra Governorate, southern Iraq, within the administrative borders of Abu Al-Khasib District extending south to Al-Faw District, using remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems. The soil units were separated by adopting remote sensing technology through the use of satellite image from Landsat8, the TIRS - OLI sensor (The Operational Land Imager), and spectral indices with field observations. A map of the soil units was prepared using the GIS program. Eight locations of soil pedons were identified, and they were divided The study area is divided into two paths, and each path contains four typical pedons within the boundaries of the study area as follows:

1 - First stripe: represents the river levees unit within pedons 1, 3, 5 and 7.

2 - Second stripe: represents the river basin unit within pedons 2, 4, 6 and 8.

The results of Indices showed a variation in their values between all the pedons through which spatial variation in surface soil characteristics can be distinguished. The values of NDVI ranged between < 0 – 0.79, < 0 – 1.64 for BSI, and between < 0 – 0.408 for SAVI. The spectral indices NDVI and SAVI gave results that match the ground facts present on the ground, represented by vegetation, while the bare soil index BSI gave reflectivity values similar to barren lands. The lands of the study area were characterized by a lack of vegetation, especially in the low-lying areas of the river plains, while the areas of natural vegetation and the parts close to the river levees were characterized by a medium to high vegetation cover, and these results are consistent with the values of the NDVI and SAVI spectral indices.