CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME NILE ALLUVIAL SOILS AT ASSIUT. EGYPT | ||||
| Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering | ||||
| Article 1, Volume 29, Issue 9, September 2004, Page 5335-5346 PDF (773.12 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jssae.2004.243795 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
| A. S. A. Abdel-Mawgoud,; M. E. A. Faragallah | ||||
| Solis and Water Sci. Dept., F.ac. Agric., AI-Azhar Unlv., Assult, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| An area of 50 fed located at The Experimental Station. Fac. Agric .• AI-Azhar Univ., Assuit Governorate was chosen to represent the Nile alluvial soils. Five representative soil proflles were selected to asses the morphological features and the soil physio-chemical properties. The obtained results indicate that there are no wide variations in the morphological descriptions among the studied soil profiles and within each profile. Matrix color varies from dark. brown (10 YR 3i3) to dark. yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) when was dry and from very dark grayish brown (10YR312) to very dark brown (10 YR 212) when was moist. The Ap horizon is hard to very hard (dry), firm to very firm (moist) and slightly sticky to slightly plastic (wet). The subsurface horizons (C, C, and C2) are very hard to extremely hard (dry). very firm to extremely firm (mOist) and sticky plastic to very sticky very plastic (wet). The structure varies from moderate subangular blocky to medium or strong angular blocky. The boundary differs from clear smooth to diffuse smooth. The soil represented by profile one was grown by grapes. citrus and fig. while it was grown by wheat for profiles No.2, 3 and 4. The soil of profile 5 was grown by clover. The soil texture class varies from silty clay to clay, with a rnuttl-depostttcnal regime in some localities due to the differences in the media of sedimentation. Soil bulk density ranges from 1.19 to 1.39 glcm3 and mostly shows a regular increase with depth. Plastic limit ranges from 51.34 to 61.48 %, while elastic limit differs from 17.32 to 25.46% and they increase with soii depth. The plasticity index ranges from 31.49 to 40.09%. The wide variation in these parameters is more related to the high clay content as well as its activity. The organic matter content is relatively low (1.24 -1.96 %) and decreases with soil depth. Soils are salt-free (ECa -= 0.96-1.43 dS/m) , non-calcarecus (CaC03 < 2.55 %) and soil pH is moderately alkaline (7.99-8,14). The values of exchangeable sodium percentage range from 1.76 to 6,67 % and tend to increase with depth, Available macro (N, P & K) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn &Cu) are adequate in the upper layers but low downwards. According to the suitability classification of Erian at al. (1991), the studied soils can be grouped into two suitable classes S2 and S3 which include those of deep profiles, clay textured, non-sallne well drained and almost leveled surface. The workability is greatly affected and accordingly, these soils should be improved and ploughed at suitable soil moisture Content. Finally, it can be concluded that the studied area is mostly considered suitable for cultivating a wide range of crops. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Morphological description; physlo-chernlcal properties; clay soil; land suitability | ||||
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