Assessment of the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) Performance in Monitoring and Detecting Vegetation Cover Changes in the Al-Jafara Region, Libya.

Authors

  • Azalarib S. Ali Department of Soil and Water - College of Agriculture - University of Tripoli
  • Eman Ashour Alsunsi Department of Soil and Water - College of Agriculture - University of Tripoli
  • Bashir A. Nwer Department of Soil and Water - College of Agriculture - University of Tripoli
  • Mukhtar M. Elaalem Department of Soil and Water - College of Agriculture - University of Tripoli

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) in monitoring spatiotemporal changes of vegetation cover in a semi-arid area of the Al-Jafara plain (Al-Zahra), Libya, and to compare it with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Time series of Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI imagery from 1980, 2000, and 2022 were analyzed. Both indices revealed similar trends of significant decline in dense vegetation (e.g., woody lands) and rapid expansion of urban and bare areas. However, SAVI exhibited higher sensitivity in distinguishing vegetation from soil background effects than NDVI, particularly in low-to-medium density vegetation zones, making it more suitable for fragile semi-arid conditions. The study recommends adopting SAVI in national programs for desertification and land degradation monitoring, and for enhancing vegetation management policies in similar regions.

Downloads

Published

2026-07-21

How to Cite

Ali ع. ا. س., Alsunsi إ. ع., Nwer ب. أ., & Elaalem م. م. (2026). Assessment of the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) Performance in Monitoring and Detecting Vegetation Cover Changes in the Al-Jafara Region, Libya. The Libyan Journal of Agriculture, 31(2). Retrieved from https://journals.uot.edu.ly/index.php/ljagric/article/view/2586

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 2 (2026): Vol. 31 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Articles