TITLE:
Use of Geospatial Technology for Assessment of Waterlogging & Salinity Conditions in the Nara Canal Command Area in Sindh, Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Kashif Aslam, Sajid Rashid, Rashid Saleem, Rana Muhammad Sohail Aslam
KEYWORDS:
Geospatial, Salinity, Waterlogging, Nara Canal and Sindh in Pakistan
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.7 No.4,
August
25,
2015
ABSTRACT: Agriculture is being main
stay of Pakistan economy and it’s very significant to monitor the existing
agricultural areas and its changes, due to different aspects like salinity and
waterlogging, which reduce the fertility of agricultural lands adversely.
Managing salinity so as to minimize its environmental impact is a prerequisite
for the long-term sustainability of irrigated agriculture. It is ironic that
the irrigated areas are those that are afflicted most by the twin menaces of
waterlogging and salinity. Geospatial technology was used to assess the
waterlogging and salinity condition in Nara canal command area, during the last
two surveys conducted in years 1977-1981 and 2001- 2003 respectively. After
analyzing the results in detail, we obtain a clear relationship among salt
affected soils, and waterlogged areas reveal that 0.2% to 1.25% of salt
affected areas fall under the shallow zone with high water table. The spatial
distribution of water table shows various trends among the water tables, and
the surface salinity of surface saline areas has been increased due to
waterlogging caused by unmanaged spatial drainage system.