Synergistic interpretation model for soil salinity by electromagnetic induction under three typical landforms in arid areas

Abstract: Accurate and rapid assessment and measurement of soil salt accumulation and spatial distribution changes are essential for preventing land degradation and improving the ecological environment. The soil Apparent Conductivity (ECa) obtained by electromagnetic induction technology can be more effective and faster to obtain soil salinity information, which helps to overcome some challenges in traditional sampling methods and reduce costs. However, the differences in soil properties among different geomorphologic types may lead to the decrease in the accuracy of EM38 in predicting soil salinity. In order to clarify the effect of soil properties on apparent conductivity under different geomorphologic types, three typical landforms (alluvial-proluvial fan edge, alluvial plain and dry delta) in Manas River Basin of Xinjiang were taken as the research objects. The apparent conductivity data of two measurement modes (horizontal mode EMh and vertical mode EMv) were obtained by using EM38 at different heights from the ground, i.e., 30, 50, 70, 90, 110 and 130 cm, respectively. Moreover, in each landform, 20 representative sampling points were selected for soil sample collection, with sampling depth of 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100 cm. Soil salt content, soil moisture content, soil clay mass fraction, soil Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and soil organic carbon content (SOC) were determined. Firstly, path analysis method was used to analyze the influence degree and contribution rate of salt content, soil clay mass fraction, soil CEC and SOC at different depths on apparent conductivity (ECa) measured at different heights. Next, by selecting non-salinity factors with high contribution rate of ECa as auxiliary variables, a multi-factor collaborative interpretation model of soil salinity was established, and compared with the model established only with ECa as independent variable. Finally, the optimal interpretation model of soil salt content was established and the accuracy of the model was evaluated. The results showed that among the three types of landforms, soil salt content was the most important factor affecting the contribution rate of ECa, and there were significant differences in the factors affecting ECa of each soil layer under different landforms. Water content of the upper soil (0-60 cm) contributed most to ECa, whereas soil CEC content and organic carbon content of the bottom soil (60-100 cm) in the alluvial-proluvial fan edge. A high contribution was made by soil salt content at 0-20 cm layer and 40-80 cm layer, whereas CEC and clay mass fraction for 20-40 cm layer in the alluvial plain. And ECa can be significantly affected by CEC content of the upper layer (0-60 cm) and soil organic carbon content of the lower layer (60-100 cm) in the dry delta. According to the accumulative contribution rate of more than 80%, non-salt factors were selected to establish the synergistic interpretation model of layered soil salt under different landforms. The R2adj of different soil layers under three types of landforms increased from 0.81-0.86, 0.57-0.87 and 0.25-0.56 to 0.83-0.91, 0.63-0.93 and 0.48-0.70, respectively. The accuracy verification results showed that the R2 of salt prediction models for different soil layers under three types of landforms were 0.61-0.81, 0.48-0.85 and 0.35-0.66, respectively. The research results can provide reliable theoretical basis and technical methods for rapid and accurate monitoring of saline soil.