A Mechanistic Approach for Modeling Soil Development Using Remotely Sensed Data Collected from Invaded Coasts

The invasion of the exotic species Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) has profoundly influenced coastal soil development in China. Accurate assessment and monitoring invasion-driven soils requires reliable methods to support sustainable governance ecosystems. A space-for-time substitution method a stratified random sampling strategy were utilized this study obtain data from 15 sites at three depth intervals (0–30, 30–60 60–100 cm) total 45 samples. We developed mechanistic approach model using Sentinel-1 data. Here, was represented by comprehensive index, quality index (SQI), which calculated key physical chemical properties. In structural equation (SEM), soil, vegetation remote-sensing initially assumed be related each other based on prior knowledge constructed their corresponding observed variables. results correlation analysis showed that there significant between processes SQI values, especially topsoil upper 30 cm. final SEM process had great direct positive effects 60 cm soil; however, (represented index) negative influence topmost layer. found explained large variation interacting ecosystem invasion, vegetation, soils, with R2 values ranging 0.45 0.96. performance evaluation demonstrated efficacy proposed predicting SQI, ratio deviation (RPD) 1.44 Our findings highlight potential pace S. marshes.