Using a pedotransfer (PTF) model to establish GIS-based maps for the main physical and hydraulic soil properties in the eastern region of the Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia

A new GIS-based mapping approach reveals that sand dominates the eastern region of Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia, particularly near Hufof, likely due to dune movement and drifting sand deposition. This study applied a local pedotransfer function (PTF) model to 566 soil data points, combined with spatial interpolation techniques, to create detailed digital maps of key physical and hydraulic properties such as sand%, silt%, clay%, bulk density, saturation, field capacity, wilting point, and parameters of the soil water characteristic curve. The findings show that bulk density increases with sand content but decreases with silt and CaCO3, while hydraulic properties are positively correlated with silt and bulk density but negatively with sand. These maps offer a comprehensive tool for agricultural planning, environmental studies, and land management in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Al-Saeedi, A. H. (2022). Using a pedotransfer (PTF) model to establish GIS-based maps for the main physical and hydraulic soil properties in the eastern region of the Al-Ahsa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. Plos One, 17(10), e0276259. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276259