Variance of some Soil Physicochemical Properties and Oxides within the Oases of Al-Bouhyat in the Anbar Desert, Western Iraq

Abstract

Al-Bouhyat Oasis was chosen. It is located within the boundaries of Anbar Governorate, to the right of the Euphrates River, southeast of Lake Haditha, about 27.45 km, at the coordinates 33°57'59.4"N 42°26'25.4"E, and an area of about 146.55 ha., Soil survey was carried out using the Free Lance method, covered with several pedons with a semi-detailed survey, which numbered 6 pedons. Soil samples were taken from each diagnosed horizon, transferred to the laboratory, and prepared for some physical and chemical analyses. The results showed soil development at the calcareous materials. The soils were classified into the Order of Aridisols, which included two levels of the suborder Gypsids with 78.25 ha (53.39%) and Calcids with 68.30 hectare (46.61%). The study results showed the SiO2 content in all profiles decreased with depth (range of 28.98 % to 35.14 and that Al2O3 values varied from 5.3 to 8.65%. The highest amount of Fe2O3 (4.02%) was in series 131CCW. The CaO range from 21.87 to 31.8% in series 133CKW and series 122CCW. The correlation coefficients showed no significant correlations with depth for Fe2O3, SiO2 and AL2O3, with a correlation coefficient of -0.096, 0.093 and 0.086, respectively. The study also showed a positive correlation coefficient between gypsum and sand content, with a significant positive correlation coefficient of 0.67. This indicates the coarse texture of gypsum soils. The study also showed a significant negative correlation coefficient of -0.51 between the gypsum content and the bulk density.