Soil Resource Mapping Research Articles

Land resource inventorying (LRI) on 1:10K – National soil priority of India

• LRI includes soil resource mapping and other collateral data for land use planning on a scale of 1: 10K. • High resolution remote sensing data, digital elevation model, and legacy data used in mapping • Evaluation of arable and non-arable land for sustainable area of land uses and best management practices • Area specific recommendations set for high productivity, restricted land degradation and climate resilient agriculture

Increasing the Efficiency of Detailed Soil Resource Mapping on Transitional Volcanic Landforms Using a Geomorphometric Approach

For developing countries, detailed soil resource data and maps are essential in land-use planning. Unfortunately, obtaining detailed soil data for mapping is expensive. Detailed soil studies and mapping in developing countries often use the grid method. In addition to being time-consuming, the grid method needs a lot of sample points and surveyors. Geomorphometry can be a less expensive alternative for detailed soil mapping. Geomorphometry uses computationally measured terrain characteristics to describe other hard-to-measure terrain and soil properties. In our study, landform arrangements and slopes were analyzed together to create a map of soil pH. Bompon watershed, Indonesia, was used as a case study. Soil mapping units with potentially similar soil pH were created based on a classification system of the two geomorphometric parameters. Soil samples were taken from each of the units. The samples' soil pH was measured and compared to the geomorphometric predicted result. Regression tests were performed to see the significance of geomorphometric parameters on soil pH conditions. Regression tests show that the results of p value of the four soil layers are 0.046, 0.019, 0.037, and 0.047, respectively, on a 5% confidence level. According to the test result, landform arrangements and slopes can indicate soil pH conditions in Bompon. Our estimate suggests that our geomorphometric method is cheaper than the grid method by a factor of seven. The ability to use geomorphometric parameters to describe other soil properties could enable a cheap and fast production of detailed soil maps for developing countries.

External parameter orthogonalisation of Eastern European VisNIR-DRS soil spectra

The quality and precision of spatial soil information varies tremendously worldwide, owing to differential access to technology, laboratory facilities, and adequate funding. Some countries offer detailed soil maps, but in developing countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and others from Eastern Europe, such data are limited. Visible near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VisNIR DRS) is a proximal and in situ sensing approach, which can quickly provide quantitative data reflecting multiple soil physicochemical properties. If in situ VisNIR DRS is shown effective in Eastern Europe, it would greatly enhance the collection of high quality soil data in support of mapping, environmental modeling, soil and water resource assessment, and precision agriculture. The present study was conducted on a soil library (500 samples) collected from mineral surface soils of Romania and Bulgaria. The samples covered a wide range of soil types and land use. VisNIR spectra were acquired on all samples with a portable spectroradiometer and then soil mineralogy was established via standard laboratory methods. The entire dataset was split into three subsets for two different external parameter orthogonalization (EPO) approaches; using a combination of field-moist intact cores and processed samples (EPO1) and only processed samples (EPO2) to remove the moisture signature from moist spectra of both moist intact and ground samples to improve clay predictions. Results indicated that using EPO1 and EPO2 it was possible to remove 5% and 29% of the error introduced by the wet/in situ measurements, respectively. However, the complex interactions between both soil moisture and mineral composition on the spectra possibly prevented EPO from fully removing the in situ effect on spectra when applied to a sample space with high variability in mineral composition. In situ VisNIR DRS shows important advantages over traditional laboratory approaches, allowing for more analytical density and less expensive soil information, with minimal reduction in data quality. The use of in situ VisNIR DRS with the EPO has excellent potential for providing data needed to support optimized soil resource mapping and land management decisions in Eastern Europe.

Impact Assessment of GIS Based Land Resource Inventory Towards Optimizing Agricultural Land Use Plan in Dandakaranya and Easternghats Physiographic Confluence of India

GIS based land resource inventory (LRI) with fine resolution imagery is considered as most authentic tool for soil resource mapping. Soil resource mapping using the concept of soil series in a smaller scale limits its wide application and also its impact assessment for crop suitability is controversial. In this study, we attempted to develop LRI at large scale (1:10,000 scale) at block level land use planning (LUP) in Dandakaranya and Easternghats physiographic confluence of India. The concept of land management unit was introduced in this endeavour. The impact assessment of LRI based LUP was exercised to develop efficient crop planning with best possible management practices. The study area comprised six landforms with slope gradient ranging from very gentle (1–3%) to steep slopes (15–25%). The very gently sloping young alluvial plains occupied maximum areas (19.95% of TGA). The single cropped (paddy) land appears to dominate the land use systems (40.0% of TGA). Thirty three landscape ecological units were resulted by GIS-overlay. Eighteen soils mapping units were generated. The area was broadly under two soil orders (Inceptisols and Alfisols); three great group (Haplaquepts, Rhodustalfs and Endoaquepts) and ten soil series. Crop suitability based impact assessment of LRI based LUP revealed that average yield of different crops increased by 39.2 and 14.5% in Kharif (rainy season) and Rabi (winter) seasons respectively and annual net returns by 83.4% for the cropping system, compared to traditional practices. Productivity and net returns can be increased several folds if customized recommended practices are adopted by the farmers. Informations generated from the study emphasized the potentiality of LRI towards optimizing LUP and exhibited an ample scope to use the methodology as a tool to assess in other physiographic regions in India and abroad.

Soil characterization across catenas via advanced proximal sensors

As countries of Eastern Europe look to advance their agricultural markets through large scale agronomic production, high resolution mapping of soil resources will be essential. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) are non-invasive, proximal sensing techniques which provide quantitative data germane to physicochemical soil properties in seconds. While these techniques have been widely used to characterize individual soil samples, sample sets, or variability across individual fields, less work has been done at the catena scale (even less so in Eastern Europe), where variability due to topographic differences substantively affects a wide number of soil properties. The present study was conducted on three catenas of the Transylvanian Plain, Romania, each with 100 sampling points randomly established in ArcGIS. Laboratory analysis (particle size analysis, total carbon, total nitrogen, soil organic matter) was conducted at Texas Tech University, USA. Following Savitzky–Golay first derivative transformation, DRS spectra were used to predict soil physicochemical parameters of interest via support vector regression. The whole dataset was randomly divided into a 70% training (n=210) and 30% test set (n=90). Across all catenas, a combined PXRF+DRS approach showed better parameter prediction relative to either sensor independently as evidenced by higher R2, lower RMSE, higher RPD, and higher RPIQ values. For each parameter, the 100 points per catena were used as input data to develop a PXRF+DRS predictive model, and the output data from each model was kriged using ArcGIS 10.3.1. Spatial analysis strongly reflected management and landscape dynamics across the catenas. Combined proximal sensor approaches show considerable advantages over traditional laboratory approaches, allowing for high sample throughput, greater analytical density, and less expensive data, with minimal fall off in data quality. The combined PXRF+DRS approach showed excellent potential for providing the data needed to support optimized soil resource mapping and land management decisions in Eastern Europe or worldwide.

Land Characterization and Soil-Site Suitability for Major Crops of Pratapgarh District, Rajasthan

The soil survey was undertaken using soil resource mapping unit to evaluate the land capability classification and suitability of soils of Aravali Mountain ranges and Malwa plateau of Pratapgarh district, Rajasthan for major crops, vegetables and fruits. The soil belongs to order Entisols, Inceptisols and Vertisols. The soil chemical and physical properties are affected by the landform and the geology of the region to a larger extent. In general, soils of plain had higher water holding capacity due to fine texture, darker in colour with greater depth and relatively more weathered in nature. These soils were placed in higher suitability class for different crops due to their better physical and chemical properties. The soils of valley pedons were intermediate in terms of physical and chemical properties, weathering intensity and suitability because of their relatively less developed nature in comparison to other landforms. Comparatively less weathered soils formed from resistant parent rock which had coarser texture, lower water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity and high calcium carbonate, therefore, these are less suitable for majority of crops grown in the area. The soil suitability classes for major crops can be improved if the corrective measure be taken to rectify the limitations (soil fertility characteristics) through amelioration of soils by different soil amendments.

Economic Viability of Soil Resource Mapping and its Use in Enhancing Farm Income — A Case Study of Garakahalli Micro Watershed in Karnataka

The priority of government in enhancing farm income of historically low-yield areas in semiarid tracts of Karnataka is focused on increasing the efficiency in crop productivity and natural resource use. The land resource inventory is basically aimed at deriving comprehensive information on natural resources for designing micro-level land-use planning and for enhancing land productivity and farm income. In view of this, This paper has explored the economic viability of generating the soil survey information (1:12,500 scale) to minimize the cost of production thorough site-specific nutrient management in Garakahalli microwatershed, Karnataka. The study has shown that the per hectare cost of improved method of soil survey (using PAN+LISS III imagery) was higher at 264 over conventional method of soil survey costing 337. Improved method of soil survey can minimize the cost up to 22 per cent in field survey. The economic viability of soil map was assessed by estimating fertilizer requirement with and without soil information. The impact in change in fertilizer application of finger millet production on the basis of soil information can reduce application of nitrogen by 5265 kg and of phosphorus by 4661 kg with improvement of 1054 quintals of yield with economic benefits of 8.43 lakh in the watershed area of 527 ha. The study has found that the benefits of soil survey in site-specific fertilizer management in finger millet are reflected in the Benefit Cost Ratio 1:2.85 and the additional income due to soil management of 1600 per ha. The soil information is useful in minimizing fertilizer cost and enhancing farm income. The investment in soil survey and fertility management is economically viable at the watershed level.

Development of optimum land use plan and carrying capacity assessment through land characterization and soil site suitability evaluation in Pratapgarh district of Rajasthan

A soil survey study deploying soil resource mapping unit was conducted during 2011 in Pratapgarh district of Rajasthan to evaluate land characteristics and soil site suitability for major field and fruit crops as well as to develop optimum land use plan. Soils of eight pedons adequately representing the district belonged to Entisols, Inceptisols and Vertisols orders and widely varied in slope (3 M -3 ), CaCO 3 content (0 to 126.21 g kg -1 ), pH (6.04 to 7.55), organic carbon (0.24 to 0.79%), cation exchange capacity (12.90 to 36.81 Cmol, p+, kg -1 ) and exchangeable sodium percentage (1.69 to 4.58%). However, chemical and physical properties were largely affected by position of land form and regional geology. In general, deep, fine textured and dark coloured soils of plain landform constituted higher suitability class for different field crops followed by valley soils (relatively less developed than plain landform) that were of intermediate value in physical and chemical properties (coarser textured, lower water and nutrient holding capacity, high calcium carbonate), weathering and suitability for crops. Grain and dry fodder productivity of different field crops was maximum at plain landform followed by valley, hill slope and hills except wheat and chickpea had higher productivity on valley soils. Among different crop suitability classes (highly suitable, suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and not suitable); highly suitable crops on soils of different pedons comprised of maize, wheat and chickpea on P 3 ; rice, maize and chickpea on P 4 ; soybean on P 7 and rice, maize, green gram, soybean and chickpea on P 8 . Among different crops, maize was suitable on soils of all pedons except P 7 while wheat was found suitable on five pedons (P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , P 7 and P 8 ); chickpea and mustard on four pedons (P 3 , P 4 , P 7 and P 8 ); garlic and isabgol on three pedons (P 4 , P 7 and P 8 ); mango on all pedons except P 8 ; aonla on all pedons except P 7 and P 8 and guava on six pedon (P 1 , P 2 , P 4 , P 5 and P 8 ). Carrying capacity of Pratapgarh soils estimated in terms of total production of cereals, pulses, oil seed and dry and green fodder indicated a surplus 55836.2, 11584.35, 133966.1, 5529284 and 3491432 tons in 2011 and 20369.5, 7748.92, 130707.19, 5114305 and 1968001 tons in 2020, respectively.

High resolution remote sensing, GPS and GIS in soil resource mapping and characterization-A Review

Timely and reliable information on soils with respect to their nature, extent, spatial distribution is very crucial for optimal utilization of available natural resources on a sustained basis. The technological advances in the field of remote sensing, Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) have augmented the efficiency of soil survey. The management of resources on sustainable basis emphasis the overall development of the region without diminishing the environment. The integrated use of advanced computer technologies with database can be used to assist decision makers for future plans. Yet, so far most of the studies have been performed on a small scale and only few on regional or larger map scale. Although progress has been made from earlier, current methods and techniques still bear potential to further explore the full range of spectral, spatial and temporal of high resolution satellites in soil resource mapping and characterization. Precisely, the present article, aims to review the status on the applications of high resolution remote sensing data like IRS-P6 LISS IV, PAN, Cartosat-I, IKONOS, GPS and GIS in soil resource inventory and characterization at large scale for the micro level agricultural planning.

Soil Resource Mapping and Assessment of Soils at Different Physiographic Divisions in Selected Mandals of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh: A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach

A rapid reconnaissance soil survey of Markapur, Kambham, Giddalur and Komarulu mandals of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh was carried out in 2009–10 for soil resource mapping using a hard copy of geo-referred false colour composite image of IRS-P6, LISS-III, and Survey of India (SOI) topo-maps no. 57 I/16, 57 M/1, 57 M/2, 57 M/3, 57 M/4, 57 M/5 and 57 M/6 of 1:50,000 scale as auxiliary data set. The study area lies between 15°30’ to 16°00’ N latitudes and 78°45’ to 79°30’ E longitudes with total geographical area of 3, 52,185 ha. Alluvium, quartzite, sandstone and shale were main geologic formation. Physiographically, soils of hill side slope and undulating pediments developed over mixed geology of quartzite, sandstone and shale 1 apped into 9 mapping units. Likewise, Soils of pediplains and stream bank developed over shale are light to dark coloured, deep to very deep and have fine loamy to fine texture and low fertile. These soils are mostly under rainfed cultivation in pediplains and waste land in stream bank extended over 51.2% of the total area and mapped into 7 mapping units. Based on soil limitations, soils of undulating pediments and hill side slope are grouped under land capability class VI and VII whereas soils pediplains and stream bank was under land capability class II and III respectively.

Terrain Characterization for Soil Resource Mapping Using IRS-P6 Data and GIS - A Case Study From Basaltic Terrain of Central India

In the present study, landforms and soils have been characterized in Borgaon Manju watershed of basaltic terrain located in Akola district, Maharashtra, Central India. Terrain characterization using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data (90 m) and IRS-P6 LISS IV data in conjunction with adequate field surveys shows nine distinct landforms. Soil resource inventory shows fourteen soil series in the study area. Soils formed on gently sloping (3–8 %) subdued plateau are very shallow (23 cm), moderately well drained, moderate (15–40 %) surface stoniness, severely eroded, clayey and slightly alkaline in reaction, whereas, the soils formed on level to nearly level (0–1 %) slope in the main valley are very deep (>150 cm), well drained, very slight (<3 %) surface stoniness, moderately eroded with clayey surface and moderately alkaline in reaction. Soils in the watershed are grouped into Lithic Ustorthents, Vertic Haplustepts, Calcic Haplustepts, Typic Haplustepts, Typic Haplusterts and Sodic Calciusterts. The study demonstrates that the analysis of SRTM elevation data and IRS P6–IV data in Geographic Information System (GIS) with adequate field surveys helps in characterization of landforms and soils in analysis of landscape-soil relationship.

Soil resource assessment and mapping using remote sensing and GIS

In this study digital image processing for physiographic analysis and soil resource mapping of Solani watershed was carried out using satellite remote sensing data and GIS. Digital image processing of satellite data facilitated in accurately delineating and identifying various soil mapping units. The physiography of the study area is mainly influenced by denudational and colluvial processes in the upper part and by sedimentation processes in the lower part. Topography of the land and nature of parent material along with the time factor seemed to have played a vital role in the genesis of soils. Majority of the mapping units are Typic Haplustepts with Entisols and Inceptisols being the major soil orders. The soils of the Siwalik hills experiences severe erosion, which prevents the maturation of soil profile. The present study demonstrated that satellite remote sensing and GIS is a valuable tool for physiographic analysis and soil resource mapping.

Soil resource mapping of Vellamadai Village, Coimbatore district fused(IRS IC LISS III and PAN merged) space borne multispectral data

The study deals with the utility of satellite remote sensing for soil resource studies in Vellamadai village, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. IRS 1D LISS III merged PAN data were digitally merged using IHS approach and visually interpreted to prepare soil map after the field and laboratory studies. Based on the morphological, physical, and chemical properties, seven mapping units belonging to four soil series were identified and classified according to Soil Taxonomy. The range of clay was from 10.90 to 55.97 per cent. Soil reaction ranges from slightly acidic to saline. The soils are low in organic carbon content. Surface horizons had CEC values ranging from 13.25 to 56.27 cmol P(+) kg. The soils were grouped under Inceptisol, Vertisol and Entisol.

Soil resource mapping using IRS-1A-LISS II digital data—A case study of Kandi area adjacent to Chandigarh-India

Abstract Soil survey provides information on soils, their spatial distribution and their areal extent for proper land use planning and agro-technology transfer. Remote sensing has emerged as a potential modern tool which can be utilised as a cost eiTective means of small-scale soil mapping. In the present study, different soilscape units (physiography-cum-soil association units) were identified following a supervised classification based on a maximum likelihood classifier using IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satellite) 1A-LISS-II digital data. Six soilscape units, namely hills, valleys, moderate and severe eroded piedmonts, alluvial plain and river terraces were identified and delineated digitally. The overall classification accuracy of the digital soil map is 92 per cent. Major soils (subgroup levels) encountered in various soilscape units are-Typic/Lithic Ustorthents; Typic/Udic Ustochrepts; Typic Haplustalfs; Typic Ustipsamments and Typic Ustifluvents. The pedogenetic clues for the development of these soi...

Utilization of remotely sensed data for soil resource mapping and its interpretation for landuse planning of Bhiwani district, Haryana

Visual interpretation of IRS-1A LISS-II (October 1988 & Feb. 1989) FCC (spectral bands 2, 3 & 4) at 1:50,000 scale was carried out for soil resource mapping of Bhiwani district (Haryana State) covering on area of 5099 sq. kim. Based on image characteristics, element analysis (landform, vegetation & erosion) and field traverses, physiography-soil relationship was established.

The solani-ganga interfluve; an application of remote sensing technique on soil resource mapping for agricultural planning

The area of the Solani-Ganga interfluve, which lies between 29°16′N to 30°15′N latitude and 77°45′E to 78°15′E longitude was undertaken for the present study using LANDSAT imagery of band 5 and 7 and the false colour composite on the scale of 1:250,000 in combination with aerial photographs (1:25,000). Major geomorphic units, e.g., Siwalik Hills. Solani-upper alluvial plain, Solani lower alluvial plain, ‘Tarai’ and Ganga alluvial plain were delineated on LANDSAT and colour composite. Sample areas selected from LANDSAT were studied on aerial photographs in details and soil physiography relationship was developed. The soils on Siwalik hills are classified as Orthents. The soils of the pledmont plain and the recent terraces of Solani river and its tributaries were Psamments, Orthents, Fluvents, Orchrepts and Aquepts. The soils of upper alluvial tract of the Ganga plain is mostly Ustalfs with inclusion of Aqualfs, while the strong hydromorphic Tarai tract consists of partly Aquepts, Ochrepts (cultivated) and partly of Aquolls, Ustolls and Ustalfs (under forest).