Identification and management of agricultural zones using remote sensing and GIS in Shiekh Masoud village , Minya Governorate.

Abstract

This study was conducted in Sheikh Masoud village (28°39'15.3"N, 30°40'49.1"E) in the Western Desert, Minya Governorate, Egypt, the texture of the soil is sandy loam. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing were used to enhance precision agriculture by delineating soil management zones. Utilizing methodologies such as Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) and Kriging, it combines various soil and micro-nutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) data with GIS-based spatial interpolation models. Soil characteristics like texture, pH, and electrical conductivity (ECe) were analyzed, revealing significant spatial variability across a 3,260 Fed. area. ECe values ranged from 4 to 14.3 dS/m, and pH levels from 7.23 to 8.0, indicating diverse salinity and alkalinity conditions. Three samples were taken from each profile at different depths to estimate the various elements. The interpolation models, validated through Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculations, showed Kriging with a reliable RMSE of 1.5, producing accurate spatial soil property maps. Sixteen management zones were identified: good, moderate and low Nutrient Zones and for salinity from non- to strong salinity levels. According to the study's results, it can be recommended, tailored irrigation methods, such as drip and subsurface irrigation to manage water-sensitive and saline conditions. GIS and spatial modeling approach support sustainable agricultural practice.