Soil Salinity Estimation by 3D Spectral Space Optimization and Deep Soil Investigation in the Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Min Ma, Yi Hao, Qingchun Huang, Yongxin Liu, Liancun Xiu and Qi Gao ()
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Min Ma: Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Yi Hao: Hohhot General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Hohhot 100024, China
Qingchun Huang: Hohhot General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Hohhot 100024, China
Yongxin Liu: Hohhot General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Hohhot 100024, China
Liancun Xiu: Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Qi Gao: Hohhot General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Hohhot 100024, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-26

Abstract: Saline–alkaline soil is a severe threat to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but it can also be a precious land resource if properly utilized according to its properties. This research takes the Songnen Plain as the study area. The aim is to figure out the saline–alkaline status and mechanisms for its scientific utilization. Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery is used, and a 3D spectral space optimization method is proposed according to the restrictive relationships among the surface soil salinity index (SSSI), vegetation index (VI), and surface soil wetness index (SSWI) to construct a surface soil salinization–alkalization index (SSSAI) for estimation of the surface soil salinity (SSS). It is testified that SSS can be precisely estimated using the SSSAI (R 2 = 0.74) with field verification of 50 surface salinized soil samples. Surface water and groundwater investigations, as well as deep soil exploration, indicate that the salt ions come from groundwater, and alkalinization is a primary problem in the deep soils. Fine-textured clay soils act as interrupted aquifers to prevent salt ions from penetrating and diluting downward with water, which is the cause of the salinization–alkalization problem in the study area. Finally, a sustainable solution for the saline–alkaline land resource is proposed according to the deep soil properties.

Keywords: soil salinity; 3D spectral space optimization; deep soil properties; SDGs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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