[Study on three-dimension spatial variability of regional soil salinity based on spectral indices]

Abstract

In order to illustrate the three-dimension spatial variability of soil salinity in central China flood area of the Yellow river, integrated soil sampling data and remote sensing data, spectral indices and inverse distance weighting (IDW) method were applied to the estimation and simulation of three-dimension spatial distribution of soil salinity. The study was carried out in typical central China flood area of the Yellow river in Fengqiu County, Henan Province, China. The electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (EC1: 5) of 505 soil samples collected at 101 points was measured. The results indicated that the coefficient of variation of soil salinity at each soil layer is from 0.218 to 0.324 and exhibited the moderate spatial variability. The average of soil electrical conductivity is from 0.121 to 0.154 ds x m(-1). The 2 820 three-dimension spatial scattered data for soil electrical conductivity were taken at soil salinity mapping interpreted by spectral indices and soil electrical conductivity. Three-dimension IDW interpolation showed that a large area of high soil salinity mainly located in the region of Tianran canal and the along of the Yellow river. The shape of the soil salinity profile was downward flowed, revealing soil salinity increasing with depth in whole soil profile and soil salinity accumulated in the subsoil. The accuracy of the predictions was tested using 20 soil sampled points. The root mean square error (RMSE) of calibration for three-dimension distribution of soil salinity showed that the IDW method based on spectral indices was ideal. The research results can provide theoretical foundations to the management and utilization of salt-affected land in China flood area, especially in the Yellow river zone.