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Mapping the Soil Salinity Distribution and Analyzing Its Spatial and Temporal Changes in Bachu County, Xinjiang, Based on Google Earth Engine and Machine Learning

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  • Yue Zhang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    Xinjiang Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Urumqi 830052, China)

  • Hongqi Wu

    (College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    Xinjiang Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Urumqi 830052, China)

  • Yiliang Kang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    Xinjiang Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Urumqi 830052, China)

  • Yanmin Fan

    (College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    Xinjiang Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Urumqi 830052, China)

  • Shuaishuai Wang

    (College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    Xinjiang Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Urumqi 830052, China)

  • Zhuo Liu

    (College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    Xinjiang Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Urumqi 830052, China)

  • Feifan He

    (College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    Xinjiang Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Urumqi 830052, China)

Abstract

Soil salinization has a significant impact on agricultural production and ecology. There is an urgent demand to establish an effective method that monitors the spatial and temporal distribution of soil salinity. In this study, a multi-indicator soil salinity monitoring model was proposed for monitoring soil salinity in Bachu County, Kashgar Region, Xinjiang, from 2002 to 2022. The model was established by combining multiple predictors (spectral, salinity, and composite indices and topographic factors) and the accuracy of the four models (Random Forest [RF], Partial Least Squares [PLS], Classification Regression Tree [CART], and Support Vector Machine [SVM]) was compared. The results reveal the high accuracy of the optimized prediction model, and the order of the accuracy is observed as RF > PLS > CART > SVM. The most accurate model, RF, exhibited an R 2 of 0.723, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.604 g·kg −1 , and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.95 g·kg −1 at a 0–20 cm depth. At a 20–40 cm depth, RF had an R 2 value of 0.64, an RMSE of 3.62 g·kg −1 , and an MAE of 2.728 g·kg −1 . Spatial changes in soil salinity were observed throughout the study period, particularly increased salinization from 2002 to 2012 in the agricultural and mountainous areas within the central and western regions of the country. However, salinization declined from 2012 to 2022, with a decreasing trend in salinity observed in the top 0–20 cm of soil, followed by an increasing trend in salinity at a 20–40 cm depth. The proposed method can effectively extract large-scale soil salinity and provide a practical basis for simplifying the remote sensing monitoring and management of soil salinity. This study also provides constructive suggestions for the protection of agricultural areas and farmlands.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue Zhang & Hongqi Wu & Yiliang Kang & Yanmin Fan & Shuaishuai Wang & Zhuo Liu & Feifan He, 2024. "Mapping the Soil Salinity Distribution and Analyzing Its Spatial and Temporal Changes in Bachu County, Xinjiang, Based on Google Earth Engine and Machine Learning," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-24, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:4:p:630-:d:1378751
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seong Keon Lee, 2006. "On Classification and Regression Trees for Multiple Responses and Its Application," Journal of Classification, Springer;The Classification Society, vol. 23(1), pages 123-141, June.
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