Assessment of soil physical quality indicators using remote sensing and in Baft area

The aim of this research was to evaluate some soil physical quality indicators using remotely sensed date, GIS and geostatistical methods in Baft area that is one of the most important centers of agricultural production in Kerman province. Therefore, soil samples were collected from 0 to 20cm depth of 183 points based on regular sampling pattern (every 250 meters) and soil physical indicators including air capacity, plant-available water, relative field capacity and soil structural stability indices were determined. Afterward, data were geostatisticaly analyzed. Subsequently, related kriging maps of each index were prepared in ArcGIS. To investigate the impact of land use on determined indices, the land use map of the area were generated using Landsat 8 images. The results showed that the soil structural stability index is within the inappropriate ranges in the studied area. Generally, regarding to kriging maps the low ranges of this index can be contributed to higher amounts of silt particles in the central parts of the area. In the regions, high density planting is occured. Another reason affecting the low soil structural index could relate to the low organic matter content (lower than % 2) in most parts of the area. The studied area was considered suitable regarding air capacity. The soil of region had a good capacity for saving and preparing of plant accessible water and proper relative field capacity.