Land Evaluation of Some Soils at Al-Azhar University Farm, Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

This study was initiated to assess land suitability of Al-Azhar university farm, Assiut, Egypt which is considered alluvial soils and is located about 4 km northwest of Assiut city, between Nile River and El-Ibrahimya canal. Eleven soil profiles were selected and dug down to 150 cm depth to represent the study area as a semi-detailed soil survey. The studied soils had clay, silty clay and sandy clay textures. The soil organic matter content was relatively low (0.2 to 3.9 %) and decreased with soil depth. These soils showed non-saline ECe values (1.23 to 1.52 dS/m) and non-sodic ESP values (1.6 to 5.1). They had moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline soil pH. The soils also were considered non-calcareous as the CaCO3 content varied from 1.08 to 2.93 %. High values of the cation exchange capacity (26.1- 68.3 cmol+/kg) were recorded for these soils reflecting their finer texture. The land suitability was achieved using both the microLIES (Almagra model) program and the applied system of land evaluation (ASLE) program for arid and semi-arid regions. The rating of the studied soil profiles according to microLIES (Almagra model) was suitable to marginally suitable for alfalfa, cotton, sugar beet, maize, wheat, melon, potatoes, olive, soya bean, sunflower, citrus and peach, most of these soils are suitable (S2) for these crops, while, some these soils are marginally suitable (S4) for olive, citrus and peach. However, according to ASLE program, the soil profiles class varied from highly suitable to marginally suitable for cotton, sunflower, sugar beet wheat, faba bean, maize, soya bean, peanut, alfalfa, watermelon, pepper, tomato, cabbage, onion, potato, fig, olive, grape, apple, citrus and banana, most of these soils are suitable (S2) for these crops. In addition, all of them are marginally suitable (S4), for peanut, potato, fig, grape and citrus. In conclusion, the studied area is mostly suitable for growing a wide crop variation. The main limitations for these soils were the soil texture, low drainage and low organic matter.