Abstract

Eref Kiliç

 Soil drainage is one of the important soil properties affecting plant growth, water transfer and solute transport in soils. Soil drainage is also an environmental component affecting irrigation and soil reclamation, land capability for agriculture, flood control systems, engineering, health and infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to map soil drainage classes by using Landsat image in Amik Plain (Hatay, Turkey). Terrain and vegetation are characterized by digital terrain attributes, and vegetation indices using a LANDSAT-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Image. The study benefits from five data sources: Landsat ETM image, topographic maps, soil maps, State Hydraulic Works (DSI) land cover records and ground data from field surveys. Image classification was carried out using Maximum Likelihood (ML) Classification with supervised training. Soil drainage classes were determined, thus finalizing the process of mapping after each mapping unit and drainage class prepared as a result of the ML classification were validated on site. According to the drainage map prepared using satellite image and ground data, 51,4% (37,234 ha) of Amik Plain are well drained and moderately well drained. 48,6% (35,192 ha) of Amik Plain are somewhat poorly drained, poorly drained, and very poorly drained.