A Geomorphological Analysis of Slope Surfaces and their Relationship to Changes in Vegetation Cover (natural and agricultural) in Al-Suwair District Using RSD and GIS

Abstract

The research problem lies in determining the nature of the relationship between the geomorphological characteristics of slope surfaces and changes in vegetation cover in Al-Suwair District, southern Iraq, during the period (2014–2024). The research aims to analyze slopes in terms of degree and direction and interpret their impact on the spatial distribution of vegetation cover, relying on remote sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach by processing satellite imagery from Landsat 8–9 within the ArcGIS 10.8 environment and statistically analyzing the results using SPSS v26 software.

 The results showed a decrease in the low-density vegetation category from 54.79% in 2014 to 40.39% in 2024, and an increase in the medium-density category to 44.93%, while the high-density category remained relatively stable. A significant negative correlation was also found between the slope and vegetation density (r ≈ −0.65), indicating the effect of slope in reducing vegetation density.

The research concluded that slope is a crucial factor in vegetation variability and recommended directing agricultural activity towards lower slopes. It also recommended adopting rehabilitation plans for areas with low NDVI by planting salt-tolerant crops, particularly barley and date palms, to reduce soil erosion and improve vegetation cover.