Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Abdulghafoor Ibrahim Ham, Head of the Department of Combating Desertification at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, a field visit was conducted to the study site in Al-Yusufiyah District, Babil Governorate, as part of MSc student Zeina Ismail Khalil’s research entitled “Developing a Mineral-Geochemical Index to Assess Soil Susceptibility to Desertification in Parts of the Mesopotamian Plain Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).”
The visit aimed to collect field samples, inspect the study sites, and monitor research progress and fieldwork procedures. The research focuses on developing a mineral-geochemical index to assess soil susceptibility to desertification by examining soil mineralogical and geochemical properties and integrating them with degradation indicators. GIS techniques are used to analyze and spatially represent the results and produce soil susceptibility maps.
This study supports the department’s efforts to develop modern scientific methods for assessing soil degradation, identifying areas vulnerable to desertification, and promoting sustainable soil and natural resource management in Iraq.
The visit also reflects the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences’ commitment to supporting postgraduate students and advancing applied research that addresses environmental and agricultural challenges and contributes to combating desertification in Iraq.
You May Also Like
