Online ISSN: 2515-8260

SPATIAL VARIATION OF SOME SOIL PROPERTIES AND MAPPING THEM USING REMOTE SENSING DATA AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

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Jassim M. SaadounMohammed A. KadhimSalah M. S. Al-Atab

Abstract

A field and laboratory study was conducted with the aim of studying the spatial variation of some morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of different areas in Basra Province, southern Iraq, using remote sensing technology by isolating soil units and identifying typical locations for digging pedons representing each soil unit. The results showed that there is a variation in some characteristics of the morphological soils between the pedons sites according to the landscape and the different source of sedimentation, and this discrepancy in general reflects the influence of the local factors of each pedons, including the physiographic location and the nature of land use . The study area was characterized by an Angular blocking structure, and the presence of a state of variation in the natural drainage between the studied sites, ranging from moderately well drained to excessive well drained, as for the depth of the soil, it can be described as very deep to moderately shallow. In addition, the results of the physical analysis showed that there was a variation in the texture in both vertical and horizontal directions in the study area with the dominance of silt and clay particles and a decrease in the percentage of sand particles in most regions, except for the pedons located in Umm Qasr and Safwan represented by pedons 4 and 5. The percentage of sand increased and the percentage of clay decreased, as well. Mean weight Diameter values increased at the surface horizons and decreased with depth . The results of the chemical analysis showed that the organic matter content of and that the highest values appeared in the surface -1 pedons ranged between 1.8 - 37.1 g kg horizons, especially in pedon 1, and the high calcium carbonate content throughout the study area ranged between 85 - 425 g kg with the presence of homogeneity With depth .

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