Soil Classification and Optimum Agricultural Use for Some Areas at the Western Desert Fringe, El-Minia Governorate, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Pedology Dept., Water Resources and Desert Soils Division, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

The present study has been carried out to highlight the optimal agricultural use of the different soil taxa units common in the Western desert fringe of El-Minia Governorate – Middle Egypt. This investigation is based on remote sensing data, GIS facilities, as well as outputs of the regular grid survey system. Geomorphologically, the whole area is an alluvial plain with different topography gradient varying from almost flat, gently undulating and undulating. Taxonomically, soils could be classified into (Typic, Lithic Torripsamments and Typic, Lithic Torriorthents – Entisols); (Typic, Lithic Haplogypsids and Typic Calcigypsids – Aridsols). Concerning the land suitability for crops, based on ALMAGARA model, “the deep and moderately deep, moderately coarse-texrured soils” vary between the suitable and moderately suitable classes (S2 and S3); whereas “the deep and moderately deep, coarse-textured soils” and “shallow soils” belong to the marginally suitable class (S4). The very shallow soils have been actually found not suitable for the tested crops. In terms of their suitability amplitude, the tested crops could be arranged as olive > peach > citrus > wheat > potato > sunflower > sugar beet > maize > melon > soybean. The study also indicated that about 32.3 % to 54% of the area regarded suitable for orchard, whereas 52% of the area is moderately suitable for the other crops and areas ranged from 5.3% to 11.8% are not suitable for the most tested crops. The outputs of this investigation may help in acquiring sustainable management and participatory agricultural development process for recently reclaimed desert areas.

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