Physiographic Soil Map Research Articles

Soil Erosion Risk Estimation by using Semi Empirical RUSLE model: A case study of Maniyari Basin, Chhattisgarh

Soil is the protective skin of our earth's surface, but today’s numerous population pressures on land, along with industrialization, climatic variability such as a vigorous increase in temperature, acid rain, and deforestation, definitely degrade the quality of land. It should have to evaluate the quality of the land and find out the nutrition status as well as the soil health. The present study is employed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment to predict erosion risk using the Semi-Empirical Revised Soil Loss Erosion Model (RUSLE). The physiographic soil map has been prepared by visual interpretation of the Sentinal 2 satellite image, from which the soil erodibility factor has been derived. The digital elevation model (DEM) has been prepared from a contour map and used as the base map for the topographic-related analysis. In this model, the slope length (LS) factor has been prepared from the DEM. The crop conservation and management factor (C) and support practice factor (P) factors have been derived from the LULC map. It has been found that 4.45% of the watershed comes under very high erosion, 3.50% under high erosion, 7.80% under moderate erosion, 11.37% under low erosion, and 51.36% under a very low erosion-prone zone.

SOIL EROSION RISK ESTIMATION BY USING SEMI EMPIRICAL RUSLE MODEL: A CASE STUDY OF NUN WATERSHED, UTTARAKHAND

Day by day numerous population pressure on land and due industrialization there is a vigorous increase of temperature increase in atmosphere, acid rain along with Deforestation definitely degrade the quality the of land. It should have to evaluate the land for estimate the quality of soil and find out the nutrition status as well as the soil health. The present study was employed with in Geographic Information System (GIS) environment to predict erosion risk following semi empirical Revised Soil Loss Erosion Model (RUSLE). The physiographic soil map was prepared by visual interpretation of satellite image LISS-4 from which soil erodibility factor is derived. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) derived from Contour map, used as the base map for the topographic related analysis. In the model LS factor was derived from the DEM. C and P factor derived from the LULC map. In the watershed 15.90 % under very high erosion, 5.49 % high erosion,7.03 % under moderate high erosion, 8.54 % under moderate erosion,11.69 % under low erosion, and 51.36 % under very low erosion.

Land Evaluation of some Soils for El- Farafra Oasis, New Valley Governorate, Egypt تقییم بعض أراضی واحة الفرافرة بمحافظة الوادى الجدید - مصر

This work aims to identify the main physiographic units and their soil taxonomic ones as well as land evaluation for some promising areas of El- Farafra Oasis. The main materials and methods were Sentinel 2 image (2019), visual interpretation and digital elevation model (DEM) were used to produce physiographic soil map. The physiographic point of view, the landscapes include two units, i.e. plateau and depression floor. Eighteen profiles and seventy-two augers were dug to check the main physiographic mapping units in the studied area. Soil samples have been collected from the representative soil profiles for physical and chemical analysis. The main results pointed out that the El-Farafra oasis were classified into four capability classes, i.e. S2, S3, N1 and N2. The soils of S2 have moderate limitations for agricultural crops, whereas texture is the main limiting factor (18.55). The main limiting factors of soils of S3 are texture, soil depth and salinity (41.22 %). The soils of N1 (11.46 %), also the permanent not suitable of N2 (21.06 %) include rocky areas and very shallow soils. The cultivated area is about 7.7% of the total aforementioned area. The suitability for cultivation four main crops namely wheat, barley, sorghum and olive in the studied area are assessed. Olive was the most suitable to cultivation in these soils.

Contribution of Different Land Evaluation Systems to Assess Land Capability and Suitability of Some Coastal Soils in Egypt.

The objectives of this study were to assess the land capability using Storie Index and Cervatana model and to assess the land suitability by LUSET and Almagra model for some coastal soils in Egypt. Twenty-seven soil profiles were dug and morphologically described to represent all physiographic units. Landsat image, DEM, geological map, field and laboratory work were used to create physiographic-soil map relationship. Based on the modified Storie Index, soils were classified into four land capability grades (grade 2, 3, 4 and 5). The Cervatana model classified these soils into three capability classes, S2, S3 and N. Almagra model indicated that 4.71 % of the area is highly suitable (S2) for wheat and citrus and 14.82 % of the area is S2 for olives. About 31.78 % of the soils is moderately suitable (S3) for wheat and citrus where-as 52 % are S3 for olives. Based on LUST, about 5.85, 3.73 and 2.11 % of soils are highly suitable (S1) for wheat, cotton and olives respectively. About 31 % of the area is moderately suitable (S2) for citrus and peach where-as 63.86 % is S2 for alfalfa and 85 % of the area is S2 for wheat. Soil salinity, calcium carbonate, drainage and soil texture were the most common limiting factors of the soils. The study revealed that the MicroLEIS application either Cervatana or Almagra is not suited to predict the land suitability and land capability while the LUSET and Modified Storie index is recommended for Egyptian pedoenvironment.

LAND EVALUATION OF SOME AREAS OF EL-FAYOUM DEPRESSION, EGYPT USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUES

The purpose of this study is to evaluate some soils in ElFayoum depression using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS). For this purpose, twenty-five soil profiles and seventy-two minipits were described in the field and their representative samples were laboratory analyzed. Using, geological map, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and visual interpretation of satellite data a physiographic soil map was produced to present soil mapping units of the studied area. The area under investigation was classified into four landscape units, i.e. Alluvial Plain, Lacustrine Plain, Aeolian Plain and finally lake and lagoon (13.14 % of the total studied area). Soil taxonomic unit were identified. These soils can classified into Aridisols, Vertisols, and Entisols orders. Land capability was used to evaluate the soils of studied area. According to modified Storie Index model. The area is classified into five capability grades reflect the limitation factors. Grade 1 about 41.85 % without any limiting factors, Grade 2 about 15.94 % where the soil main limiting factor is soil profile depth, Grade 3 about 17.30 %, where soil depth of soil profile. Texture and salinity are the main limiting factors, Grade 4 about 6.91 %. Where the limiting factors are soil depth and salinity. Grade 5 about 4.86 % represented the most area of shallow soils. Four crops were selected to assess soil suitability for cultivation in the studied area, i.e. wheat, barley, cotton and olive. The results indicated that olive was the best crop for growing in such soils.

EVALUATION OF SOME SOILS IN NORTH WESTERN PARIS OASIS (EGYPT) USING STORIE INDEX AND SYS MODELS

The North Western of Paris Oases represents one of the highest priority areas for future development in the country. The study area is located between longitudes 30 11 34.9 to 30 26 59.4 East and latitudes 24 40 9.3 to 24 51 8.7'' North and covers an area about 123966 feddans. The purpose of this study is to evaluate some soils in north western Paris oasis using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS). For this purpose, Forty-Three soil profiles were described in the field and their representative samples were analyzed. Using geomorpholical map, geological map and visual interpretation of satellite data a physiographic soil map was created to present mapping units of the study area. The area under investigation was classified into three landscape units, i.e. Plain, Dunes and Hills. Soil characteristics of the obtained mapping units were discussed and soil taxonomic unit were identified. Two models of land capability were used to evaluate the soils of study area. According to Storie Index model, the area under investigation was classified into three capability grades reflect the limitation factors, i.e. grade 1 (67.4 %), grade 3 (26.16 %) and grade 6 (6.44 %). on the other hand and according to Sys model the study area was classified into three capability classes, i.e. S2, S3 and N2. The soils of S2 have moderate limitations for agricultural crops, where texture is the main limiting factor (67.4 % of the total area). The main limiting factors of soils of S3 are texture, depth and salinity (26.16 %), while the soils of N2 (6.44 % of the total study area) include sand dunes, rock crops and shallow to very shallow soils. Five crops were selected to assess soil suitability for cultivation in the study area, i.e. wheat, barley, maize, tomato and olive. The results indicated that olive was more suitable for growing in such soils.

Assessing crop water requirements on the bases of land suitability of the soils South El Farafra Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

The aims of this study are: (1) producing a geometrically corrected physiographic soil map scale 1:50,000 reduced to the attached map; (2) crop water requirements calculation for the suitable crops in this area. To fulfill the first aim, ten soil profiles were selected to represent the different mapping units. Morphological description was carried out and soil samples were collected for physical and chemical analysis. Based on the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus images and the geographic information system, coupled with the field work and laboratory analysis data, the physiographic soil map was produced. Satellite images interpretation indicated that the investigated area includes the main physiographic units are plateaus, hilland, mountain, and depression floor. With respect to the second aim, the main land qualities of the different mapping units and the crop requirement were rated and matched to obtain the current and potential land suitability using Automated Land Evaluation system. The most suitable crops for the studied area were: clover, wheat, beans, sugar beet, onions, maize, sunflower, tomato, potato, groundnut, pea, lentil, barley, sesame, and carrots. The crop water requirements for the selective crops were calculated using CROPWAT 8.0 for Windows program as: 781.80, 571.70, 383.20, 641.55, 395.45, 771.80, 693.90, 880.32, 432.00, 510.30, 205.05, 201.30, 284.20, 487.95, and 254.85 mm, respectively.

Soil Informatics for Evaluating and Mapping SoilProductivity Index in an Intensively CultivatedArea of Punjab, India

Soil Informatics, the GIS-based decision-support system, helps to establish the potentials and limitations of different soils for crop production. A new methodology combining soil survey indices with available nutrients (P and K) was developed to evaluate soil productivity. Physiographic-soil map was generated by interpretation of IRS 1C/1D LISS III satellite data and soil survey in an agricultural region of Punjab, India. Georeferenced surface (0 m - 0.15 m) soil samples were collected from 267 sites using Global Positioning System (GPS). Available P (Olsen P) content varied from 5.49 kg?ha–1 to 67.0 kg?ha–1 and available K (1N NH4OAc extractable K) from 44.8 kg?ha–1 to 784 kg?ha–1. The nutrient maps (P and K) generated using ArcGIS clearly point out the specific locales where deficiency of nutrients constrained crop production. Multi nutrient (PK) map indicated that the combined P and K deficiency at a single place was negligible. The productivity index was computed by taking into account soil texture and available nutrients to evaluate the productivity of soils in each mapping unit. This approach is proposed as a method for the evaluation of sustainable soil management.

Soil resilience mapping in selective wetlands, West Suez Canal, Egypt

The aims of this study are: (1) producing a geometrically corrected physiographic-soil map scale 1:50,000 reduced to the attached map; (2) detecting some soil characteristics as (effective soil depth, salinity and alkalinity) of the investigated area during the last 28years to produce the soil resilience maps.To fulfill the first aim, eight soil profiles were selected from 30 profiles to represent the different mapping units. Morphological description was carried out and soil samples were collected for physical and chemical analyses. Based on ETM+ images and the geographic information system, coupled with the field work and laboratory analysis data, the physiographic-soil map was produced.The following main landscape units can be identified: (1) coastal plain (the fluvio-marine deposits) and (2) young sub-deltaic deposits.With respect to the second aim except some environmental processes which occur without human interference, the soil resilience resulted when soils are used and managed in the right way. Land use and management have a direct effect on soil resilience. It can decrease soil degradation and increase soil restoration and accordingly increase soil resilience. The main types of human activities included soil resilience in the investigated area are soil resilience against salinization, soil resilience against alkalinization and soil resilience against water logging.The human action on soil resilience could be recognized through the man-action as good and proper land management, introducing proper land modern irrigation and drainage styles, in addition to adequate fertilizing programs.

Use of satellite data and GIS for soil mapping and monitoring soil productivity of the cultivated land in El-Fayoum depression, Egypt

The aims of this study are: (1) producing a geometrically corrected physiographic–soil map scale 1:50,000 reduced to the attached map for the studied area; and (2) monitoring soil productivity of the cultivated land in El-Fayoum depression. To fulfill these aims, 16 soil profiles were chosen to represent the different mapping units. Morphological description was carried out and soil samples were collected for physical and chemical analysis. Based on ETM images analysis and the geographic information system, coupled with the field work and laboratory analysis data, the physiographic–soil map was produced. The following main landscape units can be identified: 1. alluvial plain; 2. fluvio-lacustrine plain; 3. lacustrine plain. This study is based on comparing between the data extracted from previous study carried out in 1961 by RISW report and the data resulting from the current study to monitoring soil productivity in the studied area to make comparison as well as monitoring more realistic. Soil characteristics and productivity criteria are matched for getting soil productivity in the period 1961–2010. Monitoring of soil productivity includes the following main landscapes, i.e., lacustrine plain, fluvio-lacustrine plain, and alluvial plain. The soil characteristics of previous and current study were grouped and recalculated to meet the requirements of Riquier et al. (1970) modified by FAO (2007). The results reveal that: Generally, all the studied sites in El-Fayoum depression changed positively in the productivity grade except that the soil of lacustrine plain seems to be still degradable for the reason that it receives a lot amount of drainage water from all the soil of the depression. The improvement of the soil productivity grade in the studied area due to the good quality of land management such as: – sub-soil plugging and adding organic materials to overcome soil compaction; – establish drainage network system to reduce water logging; – leaching processing to remove the excess of salinity occurs in the studied area; – gypsum addition considering gypsum requirements to reduce soil alkalinity.

Spatial analysis techniques to survey the heavy metals content of the cultivated land in El-Fayoum depression, Egypt

The aims of this study are: (1) to produce a geometrically corrected physiographic–soil map scale 1:50,000 reduced to the attached map scale 1:300,000 for the studied area as a base to survey the heavy metals content and (2) to check the sustainability of the agricultural ecosystem through checking for the possible consequences of using drainage water as a source of irrigation water in some areas in El-Fayoum depression which have high heavy metal content due to pollution effects. To fulfill the first aim, 16 soil profiles were chosen to represent the different mapping units. Morphological description was carried out, and soil samples were collected for physical and chemical analysis. Based on enhanced thematic mapper images analysis and the geographic information system, coupled with the field work and laboratory analysis data, the physiographic–soil map was produced. The following main landscape units can be identified: (1) alluvial plain, (2) fluvio-lacustrine plain, and (3) lacustrine plain. With respect to the second aim, the drainage water dissolved heavy metal analysis was determined. The analysis shows that using this water as the sole source of irrigation in some areas in El-Fayoum depression, which is actually the case, with a cadmium dissolved content of 0.02 ppm will lead to an incremental increase of 80 g cadmium per acre per year, and since the warning value for cadmium concentration in the surface layer of the soil is 5 μg/kg, i.e., 5 kg/acre. The warning value amount will accumulate in the soil during a period of 66 years. So, there are very strong doubts about the sustainability of this system. There are already signs of the buildup of heavy metal accumulation in the surface layer due to the use of drainage water in irrigating some parts of the studied area.

Use of spatial analyses techniques to suggested irrigation scheduling in Wadi El Natrun Depression, Egypt

The main objective of this study is to produce a geometrically corrected physiographic-soil map scale 1:50.000 reduced to the attached map scale 1:250.000 for the studied area as a base for optimum land use and its crop water requirements in Wadi El Natrun Depression. To fulfill this objective, eight soil profiles were chosen to represent the different mapping units. Morphological description was carried out and soil samples collected for physical and chemical analysis. The physiographic-soil map was produced based on the aerial photo-interpretation, land surveying, geographic information system, and laboratory analyses data. Where the aerial photographs were acquired in 1991, a recent Landsat ETM+image of the study area acquired during the year 2009 was used for updating the landform units. The obtained data reveal that the main landforms in the depression include flat sand sheet (6.82%), gently undulating sand sheet (30.31%), almost flat sand sheet (4.95%), undulating sand sheet (17.31%), undulating sand ripples (13.13%), undulating sandy gravel plain (20.23%), and wet sabkha (7.26%). The main land qualities of the different mapping units and the crop requirement were rated and matched to obtain the current and potential land suitability using automated land Evaluation system “ALES”. Then, the crop water requirements were calculated by using (Crop wat 4.2) program. The crop water requirements of Clover, Wheat, Beans, Sugar beet, Onion, Maize, Sunflower, Tomato, and Groundnut are 659.70, 482.40, 320.00, 534.60, 327.42, 569.50, 606.40, 751.20, and 453.10 mm, respectively.

Crop water requirements in selective wetland areas, West Suez Canal, Egypt

The present research aims to generate a geometrical corrected physiographic map with a scale (1:50,000) and calculating crop water requirements for the suitable crops in this area. To fulfill these requirements, eight soil profiles were chosen to represent the different mapping units. Morphological description was carried out and soil samples were collected for the physical and chemical analyses. Based on satellite ETM+ images of the area and the geographic information system integrated with field work and laboratory routine analyses data, the physiographic soil map was produced. In this study, two main landscape units were identified, named: Coastal plain (the Fluvio Marine deposits) and Young sub-deltaic deposits. Subsequently, the main land qualities of different mapping units with the corresponding crop requirement were rated and matched to obtain the current and potential land suitability using automated land evaluation system (ALES). In this study, it is found that the most suitable crops for the study area in regard to its crop water requirements were: Clover, wheat, beans, onion, maize, sunflower, tomato and potato. Key words: Soil mapping, water requirements, West Suez Canal, East Delta

Physiographic soil map delineation for the Nile alluvium and desert outskirts in middle Egypt using remote sensing data of EgyptSat-1

The objectives of this study are to produce a physiographic soil map with correlated attributes to be a base for extra modifiers within the land information system. This integrated data will serve the purposes of land use planning, precision farming practices and to be applied in other areas using the extrapolation approach. The Satellite data of EgyptSat-1 were projected on an area of Middle Egypt that represents unique physiographic features over portions of Beni Suef, El Fayoum, Helwan, and October Provinces. The spectral signatures of the land patterns were delineated by the visual interpretation using the physiographic approach, while soil taxa were categorized according to the key of Soil Taxonomy ( USDA, 2010), resulting in two landscape categories. The first category includes older and developed parent materials, covering the following units: (a) Pediplains of residual soils over limestone parent rock, having soils of Lithic Haplocalcids, loamy skeletal. (b) Terraced old alluvial plains represent the formerly deposited alluvium that preceded the recent one of the River Nile alluvium. They includes soils of Typic Calcigypsids, loamy skeletal and old alluvial plain but are currently managed under cultivation. The soils are dominated by Typic Haplocalcids, loamy skeletal. (c) Wadis that were shaped by the paleodrainage erosion, are currently subjected to the seasonal flush flooding and are sparsely vegetated including soils of Typic Torrifluvents, lamy skeletal (calcareous); Typic Torriorthents, sandy skeletal, and Typic Torriorthents, sandy. (d) Aeolian plain “partly cultivated” includes soils of Typic Torripsamments (calcareous). The second category is a recent River Nile alluvium that formed the following units: (a) Terraced recent alluvial plain “cultivated” includes soils of Entic Calcitorrerts, fine and Typic Haplotorrerts fine. (b) Recent flat alluvial plain includes soils of Typic Haplotorrerts, fine. (c) Meandering belt is aligning the River Nile course with courser sediments comparing to the recent alluvial plains. This belt is sub divided as levees that have soils of Typic Torriorthents, fine lomy; point bars with soils of Typic Torriorthents, coarse lomy; river banks with soils of Typic Torriorthents, coarse lomy; bow bars with Typic Torriorthents, sandy and Typic Torriorthents, coarse loamy and meander scars with soils of Typic Torriorthents, sandy. All these taxonomic classes are hyperthermic, being developed under the hyperthermic temperature regime within an aridic moisture regime.

Utilization of remote sensing data and GIS tools for and use sustainability analysis: case study in El-Hammam area, Egypt

Abstract The North-Western Coast of Egypt (NWCE) represents one of the high priority regions for future development in the country. El-Hammam area is located in the NWCE with an area of 94752 acres and is one of the main challenging regions for sustaianble development. In this study, we have used remote sensing and soil data in combination with GIS tools, for land use sustainable analysis (SLU) in El-Hammam area. The SLU was established based on various factors such as: land capability and suitability, water resources availability, economic return from water and financial return from land and water. A physiographic soil map for the study area was prepared using remote sensing and GIS. Multiple field surveys were carried out for collecting information on various soil map units (SMUs) and their profiles. Laboratory analysis for the collected samples was performed, and then the soil properties were stored as attributes in a geographical soil database linked with the SMUs. Furthermore, land capability assessment was done to define the suitable areas for agricultural production using a capability model built in ALES software. Results indicate that the area currently lacks high capability and moderate capability classes. By improving the soil properties, the soil can attain potential capability; and 55630 acres will become marginally capable. The assessment of soil physical suitability for different land use types (LUTs) were analysed in ALES software, in order to generate the most suitable areas. The results from the land suitability analysis indicated that, 17114 acres are moderately suitable for wheat and sorghum; whereas 15823 acres are moderately suitable for barley and 12752 acres are moderately suitable for maize, olive and figs. Finally, the SLU was investigated based on two scenarios; (1) the most SLU under the conditions of shortage of irrigation water: clover, barley and sorghum against figs, as the irrigation requirements for barley and sorghum are low; (2) the most sustainable land use in the conditions of irrigation availability will be wheat and maize against figs and guava. From the results it is quite evident that GIS combined with modeling approaches are powerful tools for decision making in the study area.

The assessment of potential land use in the proposed irrigation command using Remote Sensing and GIS

Standard false colour composites (Std. FCC) on 1:50,000 scale was visually interpreted in conjunction with soil survey to prepare physiographic-soil map. Thirteen mapping units were delineated indicating soil association at family-level. Soil and land resource was evaluated for their land capability and irrigation suitability for its sustained use under irrigation. Land capability and land irrigability maps were generated as attribute map. These maps were integrated to suggest potential land use map. Current land use/land cover map prepared by visual analysis was spatially analysed in relation to potential land use to study potential changes in land use / land cover using GIS. The study reveals that 14.66% area has no limitation and can be brought to intensive agriculture by double cropping.