Issues‎ > ‎vol23n2‎ > ‎

jzs-10851

Soil Degradation Mapping in Sulaimani Territories, Kurdistan Region of Iraq using GIS Techniques 

Zhino O. Abdalla1 & Kwestan O. Abdalkarim1

1 University of the Sulaimani, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Department of the Natural Resource

*Corresponding author E-mail: zhino.abdalla@univsul.edu.iq,

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.17656/jzs.10851

Abstract 
The phenomenon of desertification refers to the degradation of lands that cause instability in social and economic conditions. This study aims to evaluate desertification intensity in the Sulaimani area, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq. For this study, the Iranian Model of Desertification Potential Assessment (IMDPA) is adopted to evaluate the intensity based on different soil criteria, including; (i) Soil Depth, (ii) Electrical Conductivity (Ec), (iii) Texture, (iv) Gravel percentage. Three interpolation techniques (Inverse distance weighting (IDW), Kriging, and Spline) are applied to create a spatial distribution map. The results indicated that the soil depth has a significant effect, but Ec and rock fragments have less effect. The desertification map showed that 53.7% and 46.3% of the total study area are classified as low as a medium class of desertification intensity, respectively. These results have a significant role in the decision-making process for better land management.

Key Words:

IMDPA, Desertification, Interpolation, Soil, Sulaimani, Iraq

References

[1] UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program), “World Atlas of Desertification”: editorial commentary by N. Middleton and D.S.G. Thomas. Arnold: London. (1992).

[2] M. Jafari , M.A. Zare Chahouki, H. Ahmadi, H. R. Abbasi, “Evaluation of the effects of soil properties on desertification (Case study: Segzi Pediment of Isfahan, Iran)”, DESERT 16 (1-4). (2011).

[3] Kosmas, C., Kirkby, M. and Geeson, N. “The MEDALUS project”: Mediterranean desertification and land use. Manual on Key Indicators of Desertification and Mapping Environmentally Sensitive Areas to Desertification European Commission, Project ENV4 CT 95 0119 (EUR 18882). (1999).

[4] Sepehr A., A.M. Hassanli., M.R. Ekhtesasi and J.B. Jamali. “Quantitative assessment of desertification in south of Iran using medalus method”: Environ. Monit. Assess, (134), 243–254. (2007).

[5] Lee E.J., D. Piao, C. Song, J. Kim, C. Lim and E. Kim. “Assessing environmentally sensitive land to desertification using medalus method in Mongolia”: Forest Science and Technology, 15(4):210-220. (2019).

[6] Lahlaoi, H., H.Rhinane, A.Hilali,S.Lahssini and S. Moukrim. “Desertification assessment using medalus Model in watershed oued El Maleh, Morocco”: Geosciences, 7(3), 50. (2017).

[7] M. H. S. Faqe Qadir and D. R. Azeez. “Assessment and mapping of desertification using soil quality indicators for some parts of Iraq”: Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences–2020:51(5):1290-1299. (2019).

[8] FAO/UNEP, “Provisional methodology for assessment and mapping of desertification”: Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Environmental Program. 84p. (1984).

[9] Ekhtesasi MR, Mohajeri S, “Type and intensity of land desertification classification method (ICD)”: Proceedings of the Second Conference of the desert. Kerman. (1995).

 [10] Ahmadi, H., Abrisham, E., Ekhtesasi, M.R. “Evaluation and mapping of desertification condition in Fakhr Abad region with the ICD and MICD models”, Biaban Journal. Vol. 10, No 1-1, 37. (2005).

[11] Basso F, Belloti A, Faretta S, Ferara A, Manino G, Pisante M, Quaranta G, Tabemer M. “The Agri Basin In: MEDALUS Project_ Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use”. Manual on Key indicators of desertification and mapping Environmentally Sensitive areas to desertification. (1999).

 [12] Giordano L., F. Giordano., S. Grauso, M. Lannetta, M. Scicortino, G. Bonnati, F. Borfecchia. “Desertification vulnerability in Sicily”. Proc. Of the 2nd Int. Conf. On New Trend in Water and Environmental Engineering for Safety and Life: Eco-Compatible Solution for Aquatic Environments. (2002).

[13] Ladisa, G., M. Todorovic, G. Trisorio_liuzzi. “Characterization of Area Sensitive to Desertification in Southern Italy”, Proc. Of the 2nd Int. Conf. On New Trend in Water and Environmental Engineering for Safety and Life: Eco-compatible solutions for Aquatic Environmental, Capri, Italy. (2002).

[14] Joachim, H., M. Jacques. “Land Degradation and Soil Erosion Mapping in a Mediterranean Ecosystem”, In: Joachim H, Wolfgang, M., Michael, A,. Editors. Imaging Spectrometry, a Tool for Environmental Observation. The Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. P. 237-260. (2007).

[15] Rafiei Imam, A. “Evaluation of Varamin Plain, with emphasis on soil and water issues”, Master thesis, Tehran University. (2003).

[16] Ahmadi, H. “Iranian Model of Desertification Potential Assessment”, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran. (2004).

[17] N. Shakerian, Gh. R. Zehtabian, H. Azarnivand, H. Khosravi “Evaluation of desertification intensity based on soil and water criteria in Jarghooyeh region”  DESERT 16 23-32. (2011).

[18] A. S. H. Ahmadi."Introducing Iranian Model of Desertification Potential Assessment (IMDPA) for desertification," :p. 8. (2005).

[19] H. Ranjbaran, H. Shurvarzy, A. Alimohammadi. “Mapping Desertification using Iranian Model of Desertification Potential Assessment (IMDPA) and GIS in Golestan Province, Iran”: Bull. Env. Pharmacol. Life Sci., Vol 4[1] December: 117-128. (2014).

[20] H. Khosravi, Gh.R. Zehtabian, H. Ahmadi, H. Azarnivand, H.Gh. Ghaiebi. 2014. “Hazard Assessment of Desertification as a Result of Soil and Water Recourse Degradation in Kashan Region, Iran”: DESERT 19-1, 45-55. (2014).

[21] Najmaddin, P.M., Whelan, M.J. and Balzter, H. “Application of satellite-based precipitation estimates to rainfall-runoff modelling in a data-scarce semi-arid catchment”, climate, 5(2), p.32. (2017).

[22] Kilmer, V.J. and L.T. Alexander “Methods of making mechanical analysis of soils”, Soil Sci. 68: 15-24. (1949).

 [23] Jackson, M. L.  "Soil chemical analysis", Pub. By Prentice-Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India. pp: 41-196. (1976).

 [24] Najmaddin, P.M., Salih, N.B. and Abdalla, T.A. “Evaluating the Spatial Distribution of some Soil Geotechnical Properties Using Various Interpolation Methods” (Case Study: Sulaimani Province, Iraq). Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 11(7), pp.275-281. (2020).

[25] Hassony.J.Abdulla, Kazi. A. Hussien and Mushtaq. T. Jabbar “Pollution as a major cause of desertification phenomenon in Iraq”: Medwal Journal. Environmental Research Journal 2 (4): 187-188. (2008).

[26] M. Rahbaralam, Gh. R. Zehtabian, R. Fallah shams, H. Gholami. “Evaluation of desertification intensity based on soil and water criteria in Alamarvdasht region”: Advances in Environmental Biology, 6(1): 266-274. (2012).

[27] Reza zakerinejad and masoud masoudi. “Assessment of soil in criteria indices for desertification with IMDPA model and GIS”: (case study: Mazayijan Iran). Research Journal of Biological sciences 5 (1): 116-117. (2010).

[28] Lamqadem A.A., B.Pradhan, H.Saber and A. Rahimi. “Desertification sensitivity analysis using medlus Model and GIS”: A case study of the Oases of Middle Draa Valley, Morocco. Sensors (Basel), 18(7): 22-30. (-2018).