SOIL TAXONOMY AND EVALUATION OF SOME NEWLY RECLAIMED AREAS ADJACENT TO THE NILE DELTA RIMS, EGYPT

Abstract

This study was carried out to identify the main soil characteristics, and thensoil classification and evaluation of some newly reclaimed areas adjacent to theeast, west and south Nile Delta rims, Egypt. Such work is considered as a scientificfundamental base for a successful agricultural development of such areas. Toachieve this target, the main soil physical and chemical characteristics as well asplant nutrients status of the different soil types developed on the studied areas weredetermined, with a carefully study through representative eleven soil profiles.The obtained analytical data indicate that soil texture is dominated withmedium (i.e., sandy clay loam) and relatively coarse grades (i.e., sandy, loamy sandand sandy loam), except some soils of El-Hussania and Tal El-Yahudia areas thatare characterized by fine texture grade of clayey and sandy clay, respectively. Thatis true, since these soils are developed on different origins, i.e., the Nile alluviumand desert formations calcareous or siliceous in nature as well as under variousenvironmental 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 andsouth Nile Delta rims, respectively. In addition, the available plant nutrients statusin the studied soils was more attributed with the additions of organic manures andagro-management practices as well as the nature of soil sediments and locallyprevailing 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); TypicTorriorthents, sandy, mixed, thermic (i.e., soils developed on El-Alikat ElBahariya village) and Typic Torripsamments, siliceous, thermic (i.e., soilsdeveloped 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 agricultureindicate 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, somesoils of El-Beheira area). Soils of El-Nubaria can be shifted from the currentsuitability class of S2 to the potential suitability one of S1, due to their soillimitations are able to correct, i.e., wetness and salinity/alkalinity conditions.It is noteworthy to mention that the similarity of suitability classesrecognized in the studied areas for both current and potential conditions are mainlyattributed 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 becorrected by application of organic and inorganic soil amendments as well asapplying drip and sprinkler irrigation systems to sustain a soil moisture content at afavourable condition for grown plants and biological activity in the soil.