Monitoring of soil quality using digital soil mapping method in deforestation lands of Sari, Mazandaran province

زراعت‌پیشه, مجتبی and بخشنده, اسماعیل and حسینی, مهدی and علوی, سید محمد Monitoring of soil quality using digital soil mapping method in deforestation lands of Sari, Mazandaran province. In: 2nd International and 6th National Iranian Congress on Organic vs. Conventional Agriculture, August 2019, Ardabil, Iran.

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Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate soil quality (SQ) in deforested and intensively cultured lands in Sari city, Iran, during 40 years ago. For this purpose, Nemoro soil quality indices (SQI) by two methods of (linear (Li) and non-linear (n-Li)) scoring systems were used. Stated land uses were natural forest (NF), citrus garden>10 years old (G10+), citrus garden <10 years old (G10), paddy field (PF) and dry lands (DL). 108 samples were collected (0-30 cm depth). Eight soil properties, including pH, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, bulk density, soil microbial respiration, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and calcium carbonate equivalent, were measured. The digital soil mapping (DSM) method, more specifically the random forest technique, was applied to produce the SQI maps. According to the results, the NF and G10+ land uses had the highest proportions of the SQ grades I (very good) and II (good), respectively. Conversely, the DL and G10 land uses had the highest proportions of the SQ grade V (very low quality). Furthermore, the Li scoring method showed higher agreement values for the SQI compared to the n-Li scoring system. The spatial distribution of the SQ grades using DSM indicated that the land use conversion could decrease SQIs, suggesting that close attention should be paid to the sustainable use of the agricultural lands so as to increase the soil quality.

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