A study on soil nature of the interference zone between the Nile alluvial and desert formations in the Western border of the Nile Delta
Abstract: The aim of this work is to investigate the morphological, physical, chemical, mineralogical and pedological characteristics of the interference soils in the Western side of the Nile Delta. This may help in proper planning for reclamation and to understanding how to deal with these soils for agriculture use.
The obtained results show that the alluvial soils are characterized by heavy texture class, CaCO3 content is very low and ranged from 1.65 to 3.04% with relatively organic matter content. Soil reaction (pH), are slightly to moderately alkaline, non saline to slightly saline. Soluble cations are dominated by Na+ and/or Mg++ followed by Ca++ and K+. Interference soils are characterized by sand clay loam in the top layer overlying sandy loam sub soils with low CaCO3 content. Soil reaction values are slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline (pH 7.7-8.2). soluble salts indicating that the soils are non-saline to slightly saline with the dominated soluble Ca++ ion followed by Na+, Mg++ and K+.. Desert soils characterized by its coarse texture and ranges from sand to loamy sand, high CaCO3 content with extremely low organic matter content. Soil reaction ranges from 7.5 to 8.5 indicating that the soils are slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline, soluble salts ranged from 0.65 to 5.8 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non saline to slightly saline. Cationic composition dominated Ca++ followed by Mg++, Na+ and K+.
The distribution of total and DTPA-extractable trace elements indicate that the alluvial soils are characterized by their relative high content of total and DTPA-extractable trace elements. On the other hand, desert soils attains the lower amounts of total and available trace elements. Interference soils are characterized by the moderate amounts of total and available trace elements.
The statistical measures, i.e. weighted mean, trend and specific range of these elements were computed for each soil types and interpreted as terms of soil genesis and formation.
The data obtained by x-ray diffraction pattern of the clay fraction reveal that smectite (montmorillonite) is the dominant clay mineral in the alluvial soils followed by vermiculite, while in the desert soils; palygorskite is the dominance clay minerals followed by kaolinite. In the interference soils smectite (montmorillonite) is the abundance clay minerals followed by kaolinite, chlorite and illite. The accessory minerals which are detected in all studied soils were quartz followed by feldspars
Publication year 2006
Pages 332-354
Availability location Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, ARC, 9 Cairo Univ. St., Giza, Egypt
Availability number
Organization Name
City Zagazig
serial title Egyptian Journal of Applied Sciences
ISSN 1110-1571
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Soil classification and genesis
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Alluvial soils. Chemicophysical properties. Clay minerals. Soil morphological features.
Publication Type Journal
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