Potentiality of Landsat, SPOT and IRS satellite imagery, for recognition of salt affected soils in Indian Arid Zone

Abstract Landsat, SPOT and IRS data, black and white and false colour composite (FCC) imagery of the summer (April, May), rainfed crop season (October) and winter irrigated crop season (January, February) of Indian Arid Zone were interpreted for recognition or three types of salt affected soils, viz. (1) natural salt affected; slight, moderate and severe, (2) saline soils due to saline water irrigation, (3) sodic soils due to high residual sodium carbonate (RSC) water irrigation. These were field checked and supported by analytical data. The Landsat-MSS band 4 could only provide the overall extent of salinity. The moderate and severe natural salt affected soils were identified by Landsat-MSS band 2, Landsat-MSS and TM, IRS LISS-I and LISS-II and SPOT HRV2 data for April and January. But the differentiation between the saline and sodic soils was possible only by the use of multi-date imagery (October and January) and the clue provided by the cropping pattern. The potentiality of remote sensing data products for identification of the types and degree of salt affected soils is discussed.