Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System for Optimizing Land Use Base on Fertility Capability Classification

Abstract

Soil is one of the most precious national resources and the knowledge of soil resources of an area is vital for optimizing land use and any developmental activities. Remote sensing and GIS have emerged as extremely valuable tools to study the soil resources, their potential for various use and problems. Hence an attempt has been made to study the soils of some soils of the Eastern Desert Part of Sohag Governorate and map them based on the fertility capability classification (FCC) using remote sensing and GIS. False color composite (FCC) of Landsat ETM imageries were visually interpreted incorporated with Digital Elevation Model (DEM) which generated from the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM). Different imaging interpretation units were identified and soil pedons were examined in each unit. Horizon wise soil samples were collected and analyzed for physiochemical properties by adopting standard procedures. Based on the results, the major landforms of the studied area were described as Wadi Bottom (WB), Bajada (B), Alluvial Fans (AF), Tableland (T), Gently Undulating Sand Sheet (GUS) and Undulating Sand Sheet (US). The type, substrata type and condition modifiers were also identified for each landform. The main condition modifiers of the study area were texture (S), low CEC (e), K deficiency (k), calcareous (b), salinity (s), dry condition (d), gravels (r) and low organic matter (m). Relevant FCC units were assigned to various landforms based on the type, substrata type and condition modifiers. A utility map was prepared using GIS with the FCC units, their limitations and extent distribution. Generally, the fertility of these soils was poor on account of low organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients. Also, the water retentively was not satisfactory by the virtue of poor organic matter and higher percentage of coarser fraction. Based on the fertility constrains various soil management practices have been suggested to optimize the land use.