Characterization of Slightly and Moderately Saline and Sodic Soils in Irrigated Agricultural Land using Simulated Data of Advanced Land Imaging (EO‐1) Sensor

Around the world, especially in semi‐arid regions, millions of hectares of irrigated agricultural land are abandoned each year because of the adverse effects of irrigation, mainly secondary salinity and sodicity. Accurate information about the extent, magnitude, and spatial distribution of salinity and sodicity will help create sustainable development of agricultural resources. In Morocco, south of the Mediterranean region, the growth of the vegetation and potential yield are limited by the joint influence of high temperatures and water deficit. Consequently, the overuse of surface and groundwater, coupled with agricultural intensification, generates secondary soils salinity and sodicity. This research focuses on the potential and limits of the advance land imaging (EO‐1 ALI) sensor spectral bands for the discrimination of slight and moderate soil salinity and sodicity in the Tadla's irrigated agricultural perimeter, Morocco. To detect affected soils, empirical relationships (second‐order regression analy...