Assessment of Land-Use Efficiency in Agriculture with the Application of GIS Technologies

The main purpose of geoinformation technologies is to collect reliable and high-quality information for areas of different spatial levels (from local to global ones) within a short time; the technology selection is determined by research objectives. The use of spatial data in assessments of land condition necessitates and justifies the application of geoinformation systems for the purposes of intensive agriculture. This study examines the applicability of GIS technologies for the efficient use of irrigated and nonirrigated agricultural lands. The use of GIS technologies made it possible to survey and rectify boundaries of the 5 main soil types and 18 soil complexes within the study area. The obtained data indicate that 48.9% of lands in the studied district of Volgograd oblast are saline, while solonetzic soil complexes occupy 80% of its area. Data on the availability and use of irrigated and nonirrigated agricultural lands are required to identify the spread of degradation processes and determine the suitability of lands for further agricultural use. The area of irrigated arable lands in the studied district has decreased by 39.9%, and their condition is poor. Irrigated arable lands are located on the most suitable soils: chestnut with chestnut–solonetz soils (25–50%), with a small part of irrigated arable lands being located on chestnut–solonetzic soils with chestnut–solonetz soils (25–50%). This aspect requires continuous GIS-based monitoring of the qualitative and quantitative state of lands. The georeferencing accuracy of satellite images is determined by characteristics of the satellite survey equipment and equals to one-half of the image resolution. In total, 62 284.5 ha of agricultural lands were surveyed, 77.7% being nonirrigated and 22.3% irrigated. Individual characteristics of each parcel (slope angle, exposure, elevation difference, etc.) were determined, which makes it possible to differentially monitor their land-use regimes. The study is novel in that it presents a local geoinformation system reflecting the regional specificity of irrigated-land distribution and their use patterns and makes it possible to identify priority areas for the agricultural sector.