干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Inappropriate use of agricultural, pasture, and woodlands are the main causes of soil degradation in many Mediterranean mountainous regions. Monitoring by remote sensing and other techniques are needed in order to map and control the land degradation. The study area is located in the Gran Sasso Massif (Central Italy), a typical Mediterranean calcareous area. The extreme reduction in soil thickness reduces water availability for vegetation, with a further stress condition added during summer droughts. The aim of this study was to investigate drought using soil survey information and hydraulic conductivity values to produce a soil dryness map. Soil influence on green biomass was assessed by the relationship of soil depth versus NDVI (a vegetation index derived by Landsat-TM data).

The integrated approach of field and remote sensing data showed the existence of a link between soil moisture conditions and biomass production. Such correlations may be used in research on Mediterranean mountainous sub-arid areas.