Recognition of arid zone soil features from Landsat imagery
- R. P. Dhir, A. S. Kolarkar, N. Singh
- Springer in 1978
- Cited Count
Usefulness of Landsat imagery in discerning major arid zone soils has been studied. Results are based on analysis of Band 7 coverage and Band 5 and 7 for a limited area followed by a comparison of these with the known soil distribution as seen in Bikaner, Jodhpur and part of Jalore, Pali and Nagaur districts. Results show that at Band 7 the dominant course loamy Typic Camborthids in association with dunes could be recognised. Vegetation was found non-interfering though surface soil moisture variation of the period immediately following monsoon months (Sept.–Dec.) appeared to do so. Hardpan soils were identifiable largely by their associated features than by soil characteristics proper. Fine loamy typic Camborthids could not be recognised at series level and as a group also these could be identified only in post-monsoon period when the land is devoid of much of its vegetation cover. Saline areas could be recognised but those occurring in South-eastern tract were largely inseparable from adjoining shallow soils. For these, Band 5 image of monsoon months was quite satisfactory. For all other soils, Band 7 was better than Band 5. Though light brown sandy soils in association with dunes are the dominant formations, past evolutionary history and source rock variability have given considerable heterogeniety to the soil cover of the arid zone. Natural resource survey activity over the years has provided ground information for nearly 30 percent of Westren Rajasthan and this incidentally covers major soils of the area albeit with few exceptions. With the Landsat imagery now becoming accessible, it was thought befitting to see how far soil variations as recognised in the course of above surveys could be discerned from the Landsat. Some encouraging reports on the use of the Landsat or similar data in small cale soil mapping are available in literature (Kristof and Zachary, 1970; El-Baz, 1978; Everitt and Gerbermann 1977). In our own country also usefulness of this tool has been demonstrated by Krishnamurthy and Srinivanan (1973) and Hilwig (1975). Recently Bhandariet al; (1976) while working in northern part of arid zone have shown that soil salinity mapping could be attempted with the help of Landsat data.
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