Spatial Analysis of Land Capability and Crop Suitability Assessment in West El-Minya, Egypt for Sustainable Agricultural Development, | ||
| Minia Journal of Agricultural Research and Development | ||
| Volume 45, Issue 4, December 2025, Pages 771-796 PDF (2.08 M) | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mjard.2025.458669 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Land evaluation in arid regions is a critical prerequisite for sustainable agricultural development, especially in countries such as Egypt where desert reclamation projects represent the main strategy for horizontal expansion. This study aimed to evaluate land capability and crop suitability in a newly reclaimed area of about 29,000 feddans (≈12,180 ha) west of El-Minya, Western Desert, through the integration of intensive soil survey, laboratory characterization, and GIS-based spatial modeling. A total of 1,934 soil profiles were examined using a systematic grid survey, and representative samples were analyzed for key physical and chemical properties. Land capability was calculated via the modified Storie Index and land suitability for twenty major crops was calculated using Land Use Suitability Evaluation Tool (LUSET). Land capability assessment showed that only 10% of the land falls into grade 3, while about 75% is grade 4 and only 2.6 % poor or non-agricultural (grade 5), indicating that careful management is required to achieve viable productivity. Crop suitability analysis highlighted that field crops were the most promising: wheat and barley were highly to moderately suitable in nearly 68% of the area, while sorghum reached over 50% in S1. Oil crops such as sunflower and sesame showed strong potential with more than 70% of the land rated S1–S2, while soybean and groundnuts were largely confined to S2–S3. Vegetable crops showed moderate suitability: onion achieved the best performance (≈78% S2), whereas potato, tomato, and watermelon were restricted to S2–S3 classes. Fruit crops were the most limited crops, with olive showing adaptability (≈80% S2), while citrus and mango were mostly marginal (S3) and peach was marginally suitable (>95% S3). The study concludes that land capability in the investigated area is constrained primarily by salinity, carbonate accumulation, and shallow depth. However, significant opportunities exist for sustainable production if proper management practices are adopted, particularly salinity control, soil fertility improvement through organic amendments, efficient irrigation systems, and careful crop zoning. The results provide a robust scientific basis for guiding agricultural investment and land use planning in Egypt’s Western Desert, and they emphasize the importance of combining classical evaluation frameworks with modern geospatial tools. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Storie Index; Land capability; LUSET; Land suitability; GIS; Arid lands | ||
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