Document Type : Research articles.
Authors
1
Soils and Water Dept., Fac. of Agric., Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
2
Soils, Water and Environ. Res. Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
This study was carried out to identify the main soil characteristics, and then
soil classification and evaluation of some newly reclaimed areas adjacent to the
east, west and south Nile Delta rims, Egypt. Such work is considered as a scientific
fundamental base for a successful agricultural development of such areas. To
achieve this target, the main soil physical and chemical characteristics as well as
plant nutrients status of the different soil types developed on the studied areas were
determined, with a carefully study through representative eleven soil profiles.
The obtained analytical data indicate that soil texture is dominated with
medium (i.e., sandy clay loam) and relatively coarse grades (i.e., sandy, loamy sand
and sandy loam), except some soils of El-Hussania and Tal El-Yahudia areas that
are characterized by fine texture grade of clayey and sandy clay, respectively. That
is true, since these soils are developed on different origins, i.e., the Nile alluvium
and desert formations calcareous or siliceous in nature as well as under various
environmental conditions. Also, the soils under investigation are mostly non-saline,
except of some ones are suffering from slight to high saline conditions at ElHussania, El-Nubaria and Abu-Zaabal areas, which are located at the east, west and
south Nile Delta rims, respectively. In addition, the available plant nutrients status
in the studied soils was more attributed with the additions of organic manures and
agro-management practices as well as the nature of soil sediments and locally
prevailing environmental conditions.
Soil taxa of the studied soils could be categorized into three orders, i.e.,
Vertisols, Entisols and Aridisols, and six families, as follows:
i. Vertisols include one family of Typic Haplotorrerts, fine clayey, smectitic,
thermic (i.e., soils developed on El-Hussania area).
ii. Entisols: include four families of Typic Torrifluvents, sandy, mixed, thermic (i.e.,
soils developed on El-Qurein and El-Salhia areas); Typic Torrifluvents, clayey,
smectitic, thermic (i.e., soils developed on Tal El-Yahudia village); Typic
Torriorthents, sandy, mixed, thermic (i.e., soils developed on El-Alikat ElBahariya village) and Typic Torripsamments, siliceous, thermic (i.e., soils
developed on El-Sadat and Abu-Zaabal areas).
iii. Aridisols: include one family of Typic Haplocalcids, fine loamy, mixed, thermic
(i.e., soils developed on El-Beheira and El-Nubaria areas).
The data of the current suitability of the studied soils for irrigated agriculture
indicate the existing of three suitability classes, i.e., marginally (S3, soils of ElSadat, Alikat and Abu-Zaabal areas), moderately (S2, soils of El-Qurein, El-Salhia,
El-Beheira, El-Nubaria and Tal El-Yahudia areas) and highly suitable (S1, some
soils of El-Beheira area). Soils of El-Nubaria can be shifted from the current
suitability class of S2 to the potential suitability one of S1, due to their soil
limitations are able to correct, i.e., wetness and salinity/alkalinity conditions.
It is noteworthy to mention that the similarity of suitability classes
recognized in the studied areas for both current and potential conditions are mainly
attributed to most of the identified soil limitations can not able to correct. So, it
could be recommended that the severity of soil texture (coarser in nature) can be
corrected by application of organic and inorganic soil amendments as well as
applying drip and sprinkler irrigation systems to sustain a soil moisture content at a
favourable condition for grown plants and biological activity in the soil.
Keywords
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