INTEGRATION OF GIS INSTITUTIONS IN DETERMINING THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOIL COVER
Abstract
Purpose. To substantiate and develop a methodology for remote express monitoring of the physicochemical state of agricultural soils in temporarily occupied steppe territories under conditions of military-induced (militariogenic) load. Methods. The study is based on a contactless land audit using GIS platforms and cloud computing within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) environment. The primary indicator of the developed model is the Barren Soil Index (BSI), calculated from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. A detailed spatial analysis was conducted using soil parameters such as organic matter content, bulk density, soil acidity, and moisture levels. Results. The analysis revealed that at the beginning of the military invasion, the baseline fertility framework of the area remained relatively stable, with 89.3% of the fields featuring high humus content (5–10%) and 68.5% of the territory showing a neutral pH reaction. Concurrently, local hotbeds of militariogenic degradation were recorded. Artificial compaction of the upper soil horizon (exceeding 1.42 g/cm³) was identified on 31.3% of agricultural land due to heavy machinery movement. Signs of chronic hydrological stress and topsoil drying were detected on 8.2% of the areas, driven by changing climatic conditions, lack of irrigation systems, and the destruction of reservoir dams. Soil dehumification was observed on 10.3% of field massifs as a result of stubble burning and the displacement of lower illuvial soil layers to the surface caused by explosions. Conclusions. The developed cloud-based algorithm in GEE serves as an effective tool for the remote detection of soil cover dynamics. It satisfies the urgent need of farmers and environmental evaluators for rapid acquisition of verified geospatial data, providing a solid foundation for postwar environmental land auditing and damage assessment.
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