SOIL PROPERTIES OF A LITHOTOPOSEQUENCE AT EL· HANIA • MASSA, LIBYA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Soli and Water Sci. Dept., Fac. Of Agric., Alex. Unlv., Egypt.

2 Soll and Water Sci. Dept., Fac. Of Agrfc., Omar EI-Mokhtar Wnlv., Libya

3 Faculty of Agriculture, AI-Azhar University, Gaza, PNA

Abstract

A pedological study was carried out to investigate some 'l"0rphological,
physical, chemical, and mineralogical soil properties in relation to topography and
parent material along a transect represents a litho-toposequence at EI-Hania-Massa
area, EI-Gabal EI-Akhdar region. Libya. Results indicate that texture as no relation
with the topographic position. EC is relatively higher in the low-land area. Calcium
carbonate content varies widely with depth and has no relation with elev tion or slope.
Heavy minerals identifICation revealed that hornblend and augite are the most
abundant non-opaques heavy minerals in the sand fractions. On the other hand.
kaolinite and illite are the dominant clay minerals in clay fraction.
The particle size distribution parameters show that most of the particles were
transported by water. Also, the irregular distribution of the ralio I:!etween sand
fractions, as well as resistant heavy minerals reflects the stratlficatlon of parent
material.