Soil resources and potential for agricultural development in Bahr El Jebel in southern Sudan, Jonglei Canal project area

The socio-economic development in Egypt is based on land resources. Recently, the Egyptian government is interested in developing low desert zone areas which are located between the recent Nile flood plain and the limestone plateau, from the east and west sides, and represent an important source of aggregate materials. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the potentiality of El-Galaba basin soils which are located in the western part of the Aswan Governorate and are characterized by Wadi El-Kubbaniya for the horizontal agricultural expansion and their optimum agricultural use. The investigated area was remotely sensed to identify the landscape and its land resources. Terrain units were identified using draped Landsat 8 satellite image over Digital Terrain Model (DTM) to express the landscape and the associated soil mapping units. Fifteen mapping units were identified and grouped. Land capability evaluation was performed using Cervatana capability model. The results of capability modeling revealed about 3.33% of land with good use capability, 76.06% land with moderate use capability, and 0.08% marginal or non-productive land. The main capability limitations were soil and erosion risks. The Almagra model was used to produce the optimum cropping pattern and limitations of soil units. Matching the crop requirements with soil characteristics, optimum cropping pattern was obtained for wheat, corn, melon, potatoes, sunflower, sugar beet, Alfalfa, peach, citrus, and olive. The results of the study revealed the potentiality of El-Galaba basin for agricultural uses.

Aerial photographs and satellite image interpretation, field investigation and laboratory analyses were integrated with a geographic information system (GIS) to recognize and display terrain and soils characteristics of Kucuk Menderes plain, South of Izmir, Turkey. Seven geomorphologic units were recognized, these being: recent shore ridges and marine beaches, schist and phyllite highlands, limestone highlands, foot slopes, alluvial fans, young alluvial plains and drainage basins. The data were integrated with topographic maps covering the area by using GIS tools. Contour lines were used to generate a digital terrain model (DTM) of the area. The DTM was processed to generate shaded relief. A Landsat 7 ETM satellite image was draped on the DTM to display the spatial scope of the investigated area. For the purpose of creating a soil map 15 observation points were dug representing the different physiographic units belonging to the study area. Soil mapping units have been identified by integrating physiographic units, field survey observations, morphologic description and laboratory analyses. Seven soil taxonomic units have been recognized, namely: Typic Xeropsamments, Aquic Xeropsamments, Typic Xerofluvents, Aquic Haploxerepts, Typic Xerorthents, Typic Calcixerepts and Fluventic Haploxerepts. Physiographic and soil maps with a scale of 1:25.000 were produced.

The author has identified the following significant results. LANDSAT imageries have given positive indication of new land formation in the Bay of Bengal. A map of the bay region showing depth of new formations south of Patherghata test site was prepared. Winter crop estimation of the Sylhet-Mymensingh districts was made. This estimate shows an agreement of about 93% with 1973 data of the Agriculture Department. A preliminary land use map of the Sylhet-Mymensingh area using LANDSAT imageries in conjunction with aerial photographs and ground survey was also prepared.

Barada and Awaje Basin is located in the southwest part of Syria and includes the capital of the country, the city of Damascus and its suburbs. It covers an area of approximately 8596 km 2 and constitutes a hydrologically closed basin. It has a far higher population density than any of the Syrian regions. The estimated population living within the borders of this region is more than 4 millions. Population growth in the study area causes competition on land resources between differ ent sectors and pressure on limited water resources. The national development plans aim to conserve arable lands, improve its productivity, and sustain the land and water resources. Therefore, providing accurate and integrated information about land resources is a must, especially with the accelerated progress of information technology. Such information would be the base for planning, decision making and research needs. Various available information and database systems were employed (e.g. ArcGIS, ERDAS IMAGINE and ENVI). Data of previous soil survey activities were the bases for the created GIS digital database. Soils survey maps (SCALE 1:100,000), were prepared as GIS ready maps. Urban settlements were updated using recent ETM+ and SPOT satellite images. An intensive field investigation was performed in the study region, with the purpose of representing the soil units and collecting ground control points and soil samples for laboratory analyses. The created digital land resources database was used to figure the distribution of soil units and to evaluate and map land suitability on the bases of FAO, 1985 [1]. It was found that the Aridsols soil order characterize most of the alluvial fan soils of Barada, while Inceptisols were found in the western plains and intermountain areas. The soil orders Entisols were found dominating the western mountain areas. The results showed that 28.6 % of the areas are classified as highly suitable for irrigated agricultural production, cor responding with Typic Haplocambids and Typic Haploxerepts soil sub-great group. The moderately suitable soils, exhibit 14.7 % of the areas. The marginally suitable soils represent 14.6 % of the areas. The not suitable soils dominate the soils of eastern lacustrine and desert deposits, representing 21.2 % of the areas. It could be pointed out that achieving such de

A study area was selected in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, two of the major agricultural counties in Pennsylvania. This area was delineated on positive transparencies on MSS data collected on October 11, 1972 (1080-15185). Channel seven was used to delineate general land forms, drainage patterns, water and urban areas. Channel five was used to delineate highway networks. These identifiable features were useful aids for locating areas on the computer output. Computer generated maps were used to delineate broad land use categories, such as forest land, agricultural land, urban areas and water. These digital maps have a scale of approximately 1:24,000 thereby allowing direct comparison with U.S.G.S. 7.5 minute quadrangle sheets. Aircraft data were used as a form of ground truth useful for the delineation of land use patterns.

The author has identified the following significant results. Multidiscipline team interpretation and mapping of resources for Crook County is complete on 1:250,000 scale enlargements of ERTS imagery and 1:120,000 hi-flight photography. Maps of geology, soils, vegetation-land use and land resources units were interpreted to show limitations, suitabilities, and geologic hazards for land use planning. Mapping of lineaments and structures from ERTS imagery has shown a number of features not previously mapped in Oregon. A multistage timber inventory of Ochoco National Forest was made, using ERTS images as the first stage. Inventory of forest clear-cutting practices was successfully demonstrated with color composites. Soil tonal differences in fallow fields correspond with major soil boundaries in loess-mantled terrain. A digital classification system used for discriminating natural vegetation and geologic material classes was successful in separating most major classes around Newberry Caldera, Mt. Washington, and Big Summit Prairie.

Abstract A soil survey of the Federal Capital Territory was carried out, the results of which, in combination with those of the LRD (1975) and VALETTE (1976), were compared with those produced by the visual interpretation of LandSAT MSS imagery of the same area. The major landtypes were correctly demarcated. The subdivisions of the landtypes, while not being as detailed as that obtained by aerial photo interpretation, correspond to a high degree. It was also found possible to identify geological structures through their landform characteristics. On the basis of the results obtained in this investigation, visual interpretation of LANDSAT MSS imagery for reconnaissance soil survey is strongly recommended, especially in developing countries.

A soil survey and mapping program financed by the municipality of Gazi located on the north–central part of Crete was carried out. The studied area is characterized by a moist meso-Mediterranean climate and different degrees of land degradation from human activities. Surface soil horizons are eroded, resulting in fertility decline for olive trees, the dominant crop. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture classification, the soils at higher altitudes are classified as Entisols xerorthents and those at lower altitudes as E. xerofluvents. Using a geographical information system (GIS), all spatial data from the soil survey were organized to facilitate its storage, management, and analysis. Based on topographic–geological maps and aerial photographs, other derivative data layers were calculated. Sampling points were determined using GIS. This information, and all results pertaining to the sample, was entered into a graphical database, designed to store all relevant data for each point. Data layers des...

Geospatial technology has opened new vistas for natural resources mapping and their management. It has been widely used for soil resources inventory and generation of spatial and temporal information for sustainable landuse plan at a specific scale. The present study was undertaken to identify the different physiographic situations, landforms and soil resources to assess the chemical and physical inherent soil properties, topography, slope, climate and land use as an external land feature. IRS-ID (LISS-III) satellite data was used to delineate different physiographic units using image interpretation keys on 1: 50, 000 scale alongwith exhaustive ground truthing. The soils were classified on the basis of Soil survey and laboratory data. The generated spatial and non-spatial data was integrated in the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment and various thematic layers were derived to prepare land capability map of the district. The main physiographic units identified in the study area were undifferentiated hill slopes, pediments, pediplains and narrow river valleys. The soils found in the area were moderately deep to deep, fine loamy to fine textured on hill side slopes occupying 71.6% area, deep to very deep, fine loamy to fine textured on pediments covering 7.8% area and very deep, fine to coarse loamy soils, mostly aquic in nature in narrow river valleys with 19.3% area of district and classified as Entisols, Inceptisols and Mollisols. It was found that soils of the valley fall in land capability class-II, pediments in class-III and hills in the range of IV to VIII.

The northern part of the Sinai peninsula is one of the most strategic projects for agriculture extension in Egypt. This project (the El-Salam Canal) supplies about 168.000 hectares soils with mixed water from the Nile and agricultural drainage water to reclaim and cultivate these soils. The principle goals of this study are the environmental study and soil survey of the coastal zone soils along the El-Salam Canal project to assess the development activities in this area and evaluate the soils of project. To achieve this aims, image data analysis of remote sensing data (Landsat TM) was performed. In addition to this, field soil survey were done through field work trips, meteorological, hydrological, physical and chemical soil analysis. This work of study reports on how remote sensing data together with a land evaluation system can be used to assess the quality of the soils in this area for agricultural use. The results show that remote sensing data is a very efficient way to evaluate large areas quickly and with sufficient accuracy. In addition to fieldwork, using of satellite images is necessary to construct a soil map for the north Sinai. The results of such as evaluation process will help developing countries like Egypt, specially in the northern part of the Sinai peninsula area, to put their scarce resources on the most rewarding land in order to speed up the process of improving the welfare of the country and especially the rural population. The supervised classes by the maximum likelihood algorithm method in the studied areas were discriminated from the Landsat TM images about 19 classes in the north Sinai total area The correlation coefficient relationships among spectral properties bands and soil properties are as Band 4 more correlated with EC, CEC, CaCO3, Gypsum and soil texture.The contour line image maps were achieved from the Landsat TM image and the results of the soil properties, such as EC, CEC, OM, CaCO3, Gypsum and pH values in the studied area.

Techniques for large scale mapping of natural resources is region specific. The technique of large-scale soil mapping using remote sensing data in basaltic terrain of Peninsular Region. The data used for the study are toposheet of Survey of India (1: 50 000 scale); cadastral map of the Pata Meghpar village (1: 4000 scale); and IRS P6 LISS-IV digital data of August (kharif season) and December (rabi season) 2012. Images were interpreted visually and ground truths were collected manually and prepared landscape ecological units (LEUs) map which was used for conducting soil survey and generation of soil map. The LEU units explained a three-tier approach comprising land form, slope and land use characteristics of each parcel of land. Soils occurring in different LEU units were examined and a LEU-soil relationship was developed. The soil map depicting phases of soil series was prepared using ArcGIS 10.0 software.

A soils map for land evaluation in Potter County (Eastern South Dakota) was developed to demonstrate the use of remote sensing technology in the area of diverse parent materials and topography. General land use and soils maps have also been developed for land planning LANDSAT, RB-57 imagery, and USGS photographs are being evaluated for making soils and land use maps. LANDSAT fulfilled the requirements for general land use and a general soils map. RB-57 imagery supplemented by large scale black and white stereo coverage was required to provide the detail needed for the final soils map for land evaluation. Color infrared prints excelled black and white coverage for this soil mapping effort. An identification and classification key for wetland types in the Lake Dakota Plain was developed for June 1975 using color infrared imagery. Wetland types in the region are now being mapped via remote sensing techniques to provide a current inventory for development of mitigation measures.

A project was undertaken in Meade County, South Dakota to provide (1) a general county-wide resource survey of land use and soils and (2) a detailed survey of land use for the environmentally sensitive area adjacent to the Black Hills. Imagery from LANDSAT-1 was visually interpreted to provide land use information and a general soils map. A detailed land use map for the Black Hills area was interpreted from RB-57 photographs and interpretations of soil characteristics were input into a computer data base and mapped. The detailed land use data were then used in conjunction with soil maps to provide information for the development of zoning ordinance maps and other land use planning in the Black Hills area. The use of photographs as base maps was also demonstrated. In addition, the use of airborne thermography to locate spoilage areas in sugar beet piles and to determine the apparent temperature of rooftops was evaluated.

In the present study five soil series were tentatively identified and mapped into seven mapping units using GIS technique in Bharatnur-3 micro-watershed of Kalaburagi district of Karnataka. These mapping units varied from very shallow (

A study was conducted in Bennett County, South Dakota, to establish a rangeland test site for evaluating the usefulness of ERTS data for mapping soil resources in rangeland areas. Photographic imagery obtained in October, 1970, was analyzed to determine which type of imagery is best for mapping drainage and land use patterns. Imagery of scales ranging from 1:1,000,000 to 1.20,000 was used to delineate soil-vegetative physiographic units. The photo characteristics used to define physiographic units were texture, drainage pattern, tone pattern, land use pattern and tone. These units will be used as test data for evaluating ERTS data. The physiographic units were categorized into a land classification system. The various categories which were delineated at the different scales of imagery were designed to be useful for different levels of land use planning. The land systems are adequate only for planning of large areas for general uses. The lowest category separated was the facet. The facets have a definite soil composition and represent different soil landscapes. These units are thought to be useful for providing natural resource information needed for local planning.