Land Evaluation and Soil Erodibility in Relation to Their Properties of Some Soils in Northwest Nile Delta

Abstract

The current research aims to investigate soil characteristics, estimate the soilerodibility factor (K) and define the important soil properties affecting erodibility, wind erosivityfactor (C), rainfall erosivity factor (R) and to find out the land capability and soil suitabilityclassification in Abis region at south Mariut Lake. Representative forty one soil profiles werechosen to represent lacustrine soils at Abis region. The results indicated that the soils weredeveloped in the lacustrine deposits of Lake Mariut and characterized by sandy loam to sandyclay loam texture in most profiles. The EC values ranged between 0.77 and 10.91 dS/m, ESPvalues being in the range of 1.73 to 18.26, total carbonate content ranged between 2.0 and34.0%, pH values ranged between 7.51 and 8.83 at the surface layers. In the subsurface layersthe corresponding values 0.83 and 13.86 dS/m for EC, 1.02 to 36.32 for ESP, 1.0 and 46.0% fortotal carbonate, 7.66 and 8.46 for pH. The result also, shows that the water table depth rangedfrom 25 to 120cm. The ECw and SAR of water table vary from 1.19 to 35.80 dS/m and from 3.16to 47.18, respectively.The values of soil erodibility factors K ranged between 0.088 - 0.112 for the studiedarea. Most of the studied profiles belong to class 2 which represent soils that are moderateerodible, while some of the studied profiles belong to class 1 which represent soils that nonerodible. The K- values are positively correlated with %silt (r =0.68), %very fine sand (r=0.48)and %sand (r=0.33). In contrast they are negatively correlated with %CaCO3 (r = 0.21),%organic matter (r=0.31) and %clay (r=0.51). The total value of Rainfall erosivity factor (R) islow (41.0) due to the relative dry climate, while wind erosivity factor (C) ranged between 3.33and 18.28. The annual value of C was 134.5 and this relatively high value may be attributed toincreasing of wind velocity in this area. With regard to Land capability, most of the study areawas classified as class 2 (C2), while limited areas belong to class 3 (C3) which reflects fair ormoderate capability with available water, hydraulic conductivity, soil depth and soil salinity aslimiting factor. With respect to soil suitability, most soils were suitable (class 2) for the testedcrops, while some soils were highly suitable (class 1) and limited soils belong to class 3 or class4 which reflect moderate or marginal degree of soil suitability for some of the traditional testedcrops. Regarding the sub classes, main limiting soil properties in most of the studied soils areavailable water, hydraulic conductivity, soil depth, salinity and exchangeable sodium percent.