Investigation of some of the most important challenges facing agricultural lands in Khuzestan Province (Limitations of soil resources)

Study of soil conditions in agricultural lands and natural resources is essential for achieving both optimal resource management and maximum economic productivity. Studying the current soil conditions in Khuzestan Province, the present article investigates the most important challenges facing soil resources in Khuzestan Province and their limitations. The results of the ten-year (2011-2021) study based on approximately 1100 surface soil samples revealed that soil salinity in agricultural lands of the province is on the rise while absorbable nutrients and organic carbon concentrations are basically declining in the soils studied. This indicates that, despite all the management measures taken, soil conditions in the province do not favor agricultural production, which may be mainly attributed to soil resources mismanagement and improper planning. Moreover, about 200 study pedons from 140 land visits were reviewed to extract the distribution and percentages of land classes for each year of the study period. The results indicate that the highest number of land use change requests each year are recorded for new industrial developments and establishment of workshops and factories, tourism projects, fish and shrimp farming, national housing boom, and, finally, greenhouses. The range of changes in the land classes studied varies from class I (Arable) to VI (non- Arable) with different subclasses but the highest distribution of classes each year is related to classes V (undetermined Arable and with severe limitation) and III (Arable with moderate limitation). The majority of the V classes are spatially dispersed across the province, especially in the southern and western regions (such as the cities of Abadan, Mahshahr, etc.) and are related to soil salinity and alkalinity as soil limitations. It is, therefore, essential to localize and revise the methodology employed to determine the cultivability of agricultural lands and apply methods based on scientific findings and accurate expert experiences in order to prevent land use changes and to improve upon the preservation and management of lands with salinity and alkalinity problems. Thus, salinity, poor soil organic matter, reduced fertility, and erosion may be regarded as the major problems facing soil management in the province. It follows then that development of proper soil management measures and the related policies, enhanced investment in sustainable soil management, implementation of soil studies with special focus on effective training and education, and expansion of soil programs must be placed on any priority list.