Changes in the soil salinity index revealed (Normalized Difference Salinity Index) NDSI in Al-Muthanna Governorate

The study was conducted on Salinity index Al-Muthanna Governorate, located in southern Iraq, is bordered to the north by Najaf Governorate, to the east by Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, and to the west by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The aim is to study the use of the Soil Salinity Index (NDSI) to monitor and analyze soil salinity levels. In the region, by using satellite imagery, especially images Landsat 8 OLI For the two time periods 2015 and 2025. This is to analyze the changes between 2015 and 2025, to provide accurate maps showing changes in soil salinity over time. The analysis revealed that most of the land in the Muthanna region has moderate salinity or is unpolluted, while some areas have high or very high salinity. It was observed that areas of high and very high salinity decreased between 2015 and 2025, while areas of mild and moderate salinity witnessed a significant expansion Although there are some areas that still suffer from high salinity, the results indicate a marked improvement in soil salinity in most agricultural areas. By integrating this data with geographic information systems (GIS), maps were created showing the distribution soil salinity and identifying areas experiencing change in salinity These maps help identify areas that may need special treatments to ensure healthy plant growth and improve the sustainability of agricultural lands