Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Soil Salinity Analysis: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Soil salinity is a pressing global issue with far-reaching implications for agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The expansion of cultivated lands and the need for food production have intensified the challenges associated with soil salinization. This paper reviews the significance of monitoring and assessing soil salinity, especially in regions where traditional irrigation practices and inadequate drainage systems exacerbate the problem. The paper highlights the importance of satellite-based technologies for spatial and temporal mapping of soil salinity, providing cost-effective, rapid, and efficient sources of qualitative and quantitative spatial information. Multispectral remote sensing data have significantly improved the monitoring of soil salinity. The spectral characteristics of salt-affected soil, visible and near-infrared bands, enable the detection of salinity in both barren and vegetated areas. Various salinity and vegetation indices have been developed, with their effectiveness depending on the context and the extent of vegetation cover. Proper timing of fieldwork and measurement is essential for accurate results. The paper presents a comprehensive review of the remote sensing and GIS based methods of soil salinity estimation including salinity indices, vegetation indices, regression methos, neural network methods plus, sensing approaches, and satellite data utilized in soil salinity mapping. The majority of recent studies favour remote sensing technology over traditional methods due to its cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The choice of mapping approach is context-dependent, and there is no universally superior method. This review underscores the critical role of remote sensing in addressing the challenges posed by soil salinity, offering a promising avenue for monitoring and managing this imperative global concern.