Comprehensive Evaluation of Agricultural Soil Quality Through Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Abstract

In 2023, a comprehensive assessment of the soil fertility state was conducted in various places within Davanagere and Haveri districts. The study found crop production restrictions related to soil conditions that must be addressed for the optimal use of agricultural land. Geo-referenced (GPS-based) composite surface soil samples ranging from 0 to 15 cm were gathered from a total of thirteen villages. The Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to map the sample points after they were acquired using a differential global position method. A soil's pH, electrical conductivity, available potassium, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available organic carbon were all measured.  Most of the soils had a neutral composition. Organic matter in soil can range from 1.1% to 8.78%. It was discovered that the mean levels of potassium, accessible phosphorus, and total nitrogen were, respectively, 135.5 mg/kg, 41.4 mg/kg, and 154.27 mg/kg. QGIS 3.12 software was utilised to create thematic maps for each soil parameter, and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation was employed to forecast values for unsampled sites.  The soil fertility map was prepared using the weighted overlay method. In order to effectively cultivate and develop crops, fertility provides a ready-made source of information regarding the status of soil fertility. Fertility also acts as a decision-making tool.