Spatial Analysis of the Soil Salinity in Ashiqah in the City of Buraidah using Spectral Indicators during the Rainy and Dry Seasons

Abstract

Abstract

This study analyzed soil salinity and its spatial distribution in Ashiqah through what is provided by remote sensing techniques represented by spectral indices and compare them with field measurements. This study relied on three spectral indices, Salinity Index (2.4) and Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI) during the rainy and dry seasons, to extract salinity in the AShiqah Lowland. The results indicated a variation in the values of the indices associated with the soil moisture during the dry and rainy seasons. Also, there were high levels of salinity in the soil of Ashiqah, and similar values to the results of laboratory analyses, as there is a strong relationship between of dissolved salts measured (TDS) from (the salt bed, Al-Rufaei Barr, Saif dunes) and salinity indices (SI2, SI4), estimate at about (0.81 and 0.67). It also showed that salinity concentrated at high rates near Ashiqah salt flat towards Al-Rufaei Barr, while it decreased gradually towards the south where sand dunes.

 Keywords: Ashiqah, Soil salinity, NDSI, SI2, SI4, TDS