Spectral reflectance properties of soil surface and land covers of al-Salman depression in southern Iraq

Abstract EN

A study was carried out to reveal the correlation between spectral reflectance and some surface soil properties in Al-Salman depression southern Iraq.

Results showed that the sand and silt content were significantly correlated to the reflectance values of bandwidths 3, 5, at partials of 0.4888, -0.4687, 0.4712, and -0.4702 respectively, while they were not significantly correlated to bandwidth 7.

ECe was significantly correlated to reflectance of bandwidth 5, and 7 at partials of -0.4229 and -0.4030 respectively.

There were significant correlations between different pairs of soil properties on different levels of significance.

Eight un-supervised classified land covers regrouped to 7 supervised classified land covers were available in the area of study, the major land cover unit was the sandy soils because of the position of these lands, followed by the salt affected soils and wide depression units.

Natural vegetation varied in a little bit slight biomass.

Organic matter, lime and gypsum distribution did not show significant correlation due to the even content all over the area and to the same weather circumstances that available in this area.

For more precise studies of revealing the correlation matrices, samples should be collected from areas differs in their properties especially in OM, CaCO3, and Gypsum content.

Using reflectance values instead of digital numbers because they were more precise in expressing results.

Lots of the area land can be used in the agricultural production especially when the moisture conditions are available and that was shown in wetland units spread throughout the studied area.