Assessment of Environmental Sensitivity Index to Desertification Using GIS: Case Study in West El-Minia Governorate, Egypt | ||||
| Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering | ||||
| Article 4, Volume 11, Issue 12, December 2020, Page 719-726 PDF (1.15 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jssae.2020.159768 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Author | ||||
Heba S. A. Rashed 
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| Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Moshtohor, Benha University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The aim of this work is the identification of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) to desertification in West El-Minia Governorate of Egypt using GIS, based on the MEDALUS model. Three main indicators in this model were considered, including: soil quality, vegetation quality and climate quality. Topographic maps, geologic maps, Landsat-8 satellite image, DEM, NDVI, land surveying, laboratory analyses and climatic data were used for estimating the ESI to desertification in the studied area. The results obtained in this study reveal that the very sensitive and sensitive areas to desertification were in the eastern and central parts of the studied area, where the soil, vegetation and climatic qualities are low. These vulnerable areas are representing 81.49% of the study area (543575 ha.). The western parts of the study area are characterized by low sensitivity to desertification and represent 14.68% of the total area (97907 ha.). The low sensitivity for desertification in the study area is due to the good soil quality and vegetation quality. Small area in the western part of the study area are medium sensitive to desertification and represent 4.43% of the total area (29579 ha.). Sand dunes and Hills occupied 3.83% of the total area. The factors that effect on the sensitivity to desertification are parent material, soil texture, soil depth, slope, vegetation type, drought resistance and erosion protection. The integration of these factors may lead to plan a successful resistance to degradation and very important for decision making in ESI to desertification in the study area. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Environmental Sensitivity Index; Desertification; GIS; El-Minia Governorate | ||||
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