Elnaggar, A., El-Hamdi, K., Daibes, T. (2017). Fertility Evaluation of Some Soils in Damietta Governorate, Egypt Using GIS. Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 8(2), 85-92. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2017.37093
A. Elnaggar; Kh. El-Hamdi; T. Daibes. "Fertility Evaluation of Some Soils in Damietta Governorate, Egypt Using GIS". Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 8, 2, 2017, 85-92. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2017.37093
Elnaggar, A., El-Hamdi, K., Daibes, T. (2017). 'Fertility Evaluation of Some Soils in Damietta Governorate, Egypt Using GIS', Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 8(2), pp. 85-92. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2017.37093
Elnaggar, A., El-Hamdi, K., Daibes, T. Fertility Evaluation of Some Soils in Damietta Governorate, Egypt Using GIS. Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 2017; 8(2): 85-92. doi: 10.21608/jssae.2017.37093
Fertility Evaluation of Some Soils in Damietta Governorate, Egypt Using GIS
Dept. of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Abstract
Intensification of agricultural productivity, use of high yield crops, and loss of Nile deposits after building the High Dam have resulted in significant reduction in soil fertility. Accordingly, there is a critical need for evaluating soil fertility of alluvial soils in the Nile-Delta of Egypt as well as the newly reclaimed areas developed on sand dunes in the northern part of Nile-Delta. This work focus on studying the spatial variability within physiochemical properties and evaluating fertility of Damietta Governorate soils by using GIS techniques. For that reason, 30 geo-referenced and representative soil profiles were randomly distributed within the studied area and soil samples were collected at three depth intervals (0-30, 30-60, and 60-90 cm). Soil samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical and fertility properties. Water samples were also collected from irrigation and drainage canals in close proximity from each soil profile. These samples were also analyzed for their quality parameters. Ordinary Kriging (OK) was used in surface interpolation of soil physical and chemical properties in the studied area. Also, the ASLE model was used to evaluate land capability and suitability for crop Productivity.The obtained results indicated that the spatial distribution of the studied physical and chemical properties was highly associated with the origin of soil parent material. The higher values of clay content, saturation percentage (SP), organic matter (OM( and available NPK were found on soils developed on alluvial deposits, whereas the lower values were found in soils developed on sand dunes and marine deposits along the Mediterranean coast. The soil index of the studied soils ranged between excellent and good based on their physical and chemical properties. Soil fertility index was fit into two classes (poor and very poor). Water quality ranged between excellent and good, whereas the environmental conditions in the studied area were good. The final land capability index indicated that soils in the studied are fit into two classes (fair and poor). Land suitability for the selected crops varied from very suitable to permanently unsuitable. However, the former class represents the majority of the studied area. Most of the limitations for crop productivity were mainly associated with soil salinity, sodicity, heavy soil-texture, poor drainage and soil depth. However, these limitations can be eliminated through using proper fertility and land management practices.
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