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Studies on origin, mode of formation, uniformity of soil materials and suitability for specific crops on the eastern side of Nile Delta, Egypt
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Abstract: The aim of this investigation is to study the origin and uniformity of the soils located in the eastern side of the Nile Delta using morphological and mineral composition of the sand fraction and their relation to soil development, as well as their suitability for specific crops. In order to realize this objective, twelve soil profiles were chosen to represent the main geomorphic units of the study area. The soil profiles were morphologically described in the field. The soils are classified according to USDA (2010) as: Typic Haplotorrerts, Typic Calcigypsids, Aquic Haplocalcids, Aquic Torrifluvents, Typic Haplocalcids, Typic Torriorthents and Typic Torripsamments.
The obtained data show that the soils of old deltaic plain, fluvio-marine plain, Wadi El-Tumulat and structural plain are of very poorly sorted, poorly sorted and moderately sorted sediments transported in a rolling and suspension and deposited in aqueous medium and characterized by the fine to medium materials derived from fluvial origin; but non-uniform in nature.
Mineralogical composition of the sand fraction of these geomorphic units indicate that light fractions are composed of quartz, but other associated minerals such as feldspar are found in small amount, while heavy minerals on the other hand, are detected as opaques, pyroboles and garnet in high amounts. Zircon, rutile, tourmaline and epidote are present in moderate amounts. The heavy minerals assemblage in the studied soils indicates that these soils are weakly developed. Also, the dominance of resistant minerals (stable and very stable minerals) could be concluded that recent sediments rich in these minerals which are derived mainly from alteration of metamorphic and igneous rocks.
Soils of the studied geomorphic units are formed either of multi-origin or multi-depositional regime, due to the heterogeneity of the parent material prior to inception to geogentic weathering or resulted in from the geochemical weathering previated in the source sediments.
By matching the parametric approach of land indices and the requirements of some specific crops, the obtained data of soil suitability for some selected crops (24 crops), which are presented for the studied soils developed on the identified geomorphic units as land suitability guide tables, reveal that the current suitability classes were highly suitable lands (S1) for cultivating many field crops (alfalfa, cotton, sunflower, groundnuts, sesame and maize); vegetables (green pepper, tomato, potato, watermelon, safflower and cabbage); fruit trees (mango and olives). Moderately suitable lands (S2) for cultivating some field crops (barley, wheat and onion); vegetables (carrots and pea); fruit trees (guava and citrus) and marginally suitable lands (S3) for growing beans, oil palm and banana)
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| Publication year |
2012
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| Pages |
169-194
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| Availability location |
كلية الزراعة - جامعة الزقازيق
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| City |
الزقازيق
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| serial title |
المجلة المصرية للعلوم التطبيقية
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Soil classification and genesisSoil surveys and mapping
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Soil classification.
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| Proposed Agrovoc |
soil materials;soil suitability;
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| Publication Type |
Journal
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