Evaluation of Soil Agricultural Productive Capability by Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques in Siwa Oasis, Egypt. | ||||
| Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering | ||||
| Article 5, Volume 7, Issue 8, August 2016, Page 547-555 PDF (937.36 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jssae.2016.39785 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
A. Elnaggar 1; A. Mosa2; M. El-Seedy2; F. Biki2
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| 1Dept. of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt | ||||
| 2Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Siwa Oasis represents one of the most important depressions in the western desert of Egypt. This importance comes from the availability of water resources, which can be used in land reclamation and cultivation projects. Accordingly, the main objective of this work was to evaluate agricultural productivity of soils in Siwa Oasis. For that purpose, 20 geo-referenced soil profiles were dug and sampled based on their development. Forty sixsoil samples were collected from these profiles and analyzed for their physiochemical properties. Water samples were also collected from irrigation wells and drainage canals. These samples were analyzed for their chemical properties. Land evaluation was carried out using the Agriculture Land Evaluation System for arid and semi-arid regions (ASLEarid). The obtained results indicated that soils in SiwaOasis were set into two classes (fair and poor) based on soil index. Also, they were located into three classes (fair, poor and very poor) based on fertility index. Water quality was good for crop irrigation. The final land capability was fit into classes (Fair and poor). Fair soils represented about 70% of the studied area and poor soils represent the rest of the area. Poor land capabilities were mainly attributed to high soils salinity, coarse texture, low fertility and poor drainage. However, these limitations can be eliminated through proper management practices. The suitability of soils in the oasis was also evaluated for 18 crops. Soils suitability ranged between suitable and permanently unsuitable. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Soil evaluation; Land capability; Land suitability; ASLEarid; GIS | ||||
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