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Pedological study on soils of some wadis in southern Sinai, Egypt
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Abstract: The aim of the current study is to evaluation of morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of soils at some Wadis in Southern part of Sinai. Classification and quantitative Land evaluation of these soils will be also carried out. Accordingly suitable suggestion could be attained to help in planning the reclamation process and to the understanding how to deal with these soils for agricultural use.
The results could be summarized as follows :-
•Chroma-test figures of the surface layer of profiles No.’s 2 and 7 (Wadi El-Murr), 10, 15, and 18 (Wadi Wardan) and 23 and 27 (Wadi Gharandal) revealed that these soils have weak structures, very bad air-water relationships, no or very weak microbial activity, very bad biological situation, no possibility for humus building, very poor and very low productively. These soils necessarily need reclamation with addition of chemical and organic fertilizers.
•Generally, data of mean size (Mz) show that the soil materials of most profile layers of Wadi Gharandal are medium sand. The sorting values are true reflection of the common transport and deposition of sediments under both wind and water action. Values of skewness indicate that the subsequent layers of the representing profiles are varied from layer to another in most sites and differ from extremely fine to extremely coarse skewed. With regard to kurtosis, Lepto or very Lepto kurtic generally characterizes the most examined profile layers.
•Frequency distribution of heavy minerals for studied profiles indicate that opaque, pyroboles and ultrastable are the most abundant minerals. Metamorphic minerals (as a total) are present in relatively moderate amounts. The remaining minerals are found in less pronounced amounts. The values of non-opaque minerals group are ranged between 53.79 and 63.68 from total heavy fraction.
•The soils are classified according to Soil Survey Staff (1999). The dominant soil moisture regime of the investigated area is Aridic (Torric) with Hyperthermic soil temperature regime. Only the soils represented by profiles 3 and 6 (Wadi El-Murr) haven’t any diagnostic horizon; therefore they could be affiliated to Entisols. While the other studied profiles have one or more diagnostic horizons accordingly they classified under Aridisols.
•Land capability index was calculated according to Sys (1991) for each profile and consequently the land was certain capability class. Soils of Wadi El-Murr belonging to III, IV and V grades while soils of both Wadi Wardan and Wadi Gharandal belonging to the III and IV grades.
•The studied soil profiles which have capability class of grades III and IV, are evaluated to determine the suitability for growing 16 crops. Generally, The soils of studied Wadis are placed at marginally (S3) and/or moderately (S2) suitable for most used growing field crops, The soils are very suitable (S1) and/or moderately (S2) for olives. Also, the studied soils are mostly placed at marginally and moderately suitable for citrus, guava and palm trees.
•It can be concluded from aforementioned that most areas of studied wadis are suitable for cultivating of most the used certain crops.
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| Publication year |
2001
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الأراضى والمياه والبيئة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| Country |
Egypt
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| Department |
Soil Physics and Chemistry
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Soil chemistry and physicsSoil classification and genesisSoil science and management
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Genetic soil types.
Soil chemicophysical properties.
Soil classification.
Soil conservation.
Soil morphological features.
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| Publication Type |
PhD Thesis
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