IRAQI JOURNAL OF DESERT STUDIES

Abstract

The current study is based on the analysis and monitoring of spatial and temporal variations in some of the soil characteristics of the Muthanna agricultural project located north of the city of Samawah, where analyzed the maps of the physical units and salinity maps of the project and identified the sites of pedons and excavation Auger hole required field implementation, the project lies within the province of Muthanna, an area of 12050.5 Ha quarter. Some of the physico-chemical characteristics of the sample samples were analyzed for each physiographic unit. The satellite images of the project for the years (2017, 2002, 1992, 1982, and 1972) were classified by a non-directed classification and entered by Arc Map. The salinity index , The values of the saline index (SI) were found according to the formula proposed by Khan et al. (2005) was studied for information on the amount of variation of the indicator during the monitoring stages and it became clear what follows: The saline index values in 1972 reached a maximum of 15.71 in the unit of River levee soils (RL), the Irrigation levee (IL) and the Silted Haur soils (SH), followed by the (H) Haur soils unit at 13.96, and the low by 13.41. The lowest value was recorded in the River basin soils (B) unit at 13.34. In 1982, it was the highest value in the marshland and river basin unit at 13.49, followed by the two rivers and (IL) by 12.96 and the lowest by 11.95. The lowest value was in the unit of the (SH) by 8.77, and in 1992 the highest value of 14.28 in both the (H) units and rows of (IL), followed by 13.16 in the unit of rivers. The lowest value was 10.19 in each of the units, such as irrigation channels, docks and (SH). In 2002, the highest value was 17.41 in the (H) unit, followed by 15.87 in the low unit, the (H) and (RL), by 11.24, the basins were 8.4, 6.05 per unit of (IL). In 2017, the highest percentage was found in the low soil unit at 19.74, followed by the 19.04 (H) , the (RL), the (IL) and the (B) at 17.72. As for the lowest value, it reached 12.97 in the unit of the (SH), The final result of the soil salinity index from 1972 to 2017 and most of the geomorphological units was of progressive values in relation to the deterioration of the soil of the project through the years of study