Prediction of Infiltration and Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of the Soilsin the Iraqi Central Alluvial Plain Using Remote Sensing Technique.

Abstract

Studies within the last two decades have pointed out the importance of remote
sensing techniques to deduct soil properties. These techniques showed promising
results as a suitable alternative with lowest cost in compare with other methods used
to measure soil characteristics (10). The aim of this study is to test the relationship
between landsat (ETM + sensor) data and infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic
conductivity of soils with ten different selected soil units. These soils which have
variations in geomorphology and soil characteristics are located at the north of Kut
city (Middle part of Iraq to the left of Tigris river). Statistical Analyses were
performed and statistical models were built up to predict the two soil characteristics
using remote sensing techniques. The results showed the statistically significance of
the relations between the soil water infiltration rate values and the remote sensing
data for the soil surface layer, with determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9 . while the
saturated hydraulic conductivity for the soil layer at depth 25-50 cm, showed weak
correlation .These results demonstrate the weak relation between ETM + sensor
data and soil data with depth