Classification of seasonal dynamics of soil moisture according to satellite data Sentinel-2, Jizzakh region, Uzbekistan

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Materials
 
and
 
methods
2.1
Study
area
2.1.1 Location and its characteristics
The Jizzakh region is located between the Syr Darya and Zarafshan rivers in the central 
part of Uzbekistan, bordering the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Syr Darya region in the 
north and northeast, the Republic of Tajikistan in the southeast, Navoi and Samarkand 
regions in the west and southwest (Figure 1). The region's total territory is 21.2 thousand 
km
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, or 4.8 % of the territory of Uzbekistan [3]. 
At the northern foot of the Nuratau Mountains, in the southern part of the Mirzachul 
steppe, 180 km southwest of Tashkent, 90 km northeast of Samarkand, the region's regional 
centre, the region, the city of Jizzakh, is located on the Sanzar River. The town of Jizzakh 
borders this area with the Jizzakh and Gallaaral regions [12]. 
Fig
. 
1. 
a) Map of Central Asia and Afghanistan, b) Map of the study site Jizzakh region, 
the area marked in red, shows the position of the study area - an image built using 
Topographic Maps of the World (n30e060) ([16]). 
The climate of Jizzakh is considered to be moderately warm, and continental, with dry 
and warm summers and relatively cold winters. The average annual temperature is +15.6 
°C (Figure 2). The average temperature ranges from +1 to +4 °C in January and from +26 
2
E3S Web of Conferences 
386
, 01005 (2023)
GISCA 2022 and GI 2022
https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202338601005

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to +28 °C in July. There is little rainfall throughout the year, with an average of 400-500 
mm and an average annual rainfall of 370 mm. In summer, the growing season lasts 240-
260 days, air humidity is from 78 to 80 %: from 20 to 40 % [14]. 
Fig. 2. 
Average air temperatures in the Jizzakh region for the period 1979-2020 (built from electronic 
data [9]). 
2.1.2 Soils
Gray earth-meadow soils are widespread in the territory under consideration, mainly in the 
flat proluvial plain of the peripheral parts of the merged alluvial fans, the middle part of the 
Zominsu river alluvial fan and the lower part of the proluvial plain of the Lomakino 
Plateau. These soils are developed under conditions of soil moisture and are close to 
several hydromorphic soils [10]. Serozem-meadow soils, in comparison with meadow-
serozem soils, are characterized by increased soil moisture, high hydromorphism, and a 
more intense accumulation of salts. The morphological profile shows increased meadows, 
stretching of the humus horizon, better structure, compaction, the presence of signs of 
restored processes from a depth of 1-1.5 m or more, and an intense manifestation of 
solonchak processes [10].
 
According to the data of the State Committee of “Landgeodezcadastre” of the Republic 
of Uzbekistan for 2015, the following information is provided on the salinization of soils in 
the Jizzakh region: 47 % of the land is slightly saline, 35 % of the land is moderately saline, 
and 18 % of the land is subject to severe salinization [1]. 
2.1.3 Water resources 
In the Jizzakh region, the water resources of the Zarafshan - the South Mirzachul main 
canal and the Syr Darya are used for various purposes. There are 4 water reservoirs built 
artificially in the region with a total displacement of about 219.0 million m3 [12].
 
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