Mapping and Monitoring Land Degradation in the Middle Nile Delta Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

摘要

THE PRESENT work aims at monitoring soil degradation processes within the last four decades in the middle part of Nile Delta .The investigated area lies between longitudes 30° 45' 00" and 31° 02* 26" E and latitudes 30° 45' 00" and 30° 56' 29" N,covering an area of about 587.44km2. Detecting soil degradation and recognizing its various types is a necessity to take the practical measures for combating it as well as conserving and keeping the agricultural soil healthy. Land degradation was assessed by adopting new approach through the integration of GLASOD/FAO approach and Remote Sensing / GIS techniques. To fulfill this objective, Landsat ETM image and digital elevation model (DEM) are used lo produce the physiographic map of the studied area atthe landform level. Spatial Land degradation model was designed using spatial analyses to identify the land degradation degrees. The main types of human induced soil degradation that observed in the studied area are salinity, alkalinity, compaction andwater logging. The main causative factors of human induced land degradation types in the area are excessive irrigation, human intervention in natural drainage, improperly time use of heavy machinery and the absence of conservation measurements.