SOIL LIMITATIONS AND LAND CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION OF EL-FAYOUM GOVERNORATE | ||||
| Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering | ||||
| Article 1, Volume 3, Issue 8, August 2012, Page 763-778 PDF (765.92 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jssae.2012.54358 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| M. S. Zaid1; S. M. Abd El-Rassoul2; I. M. Abdalla2 | ||||
| 1Fac. Of Agric. Al-Azhar Univ. Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
| 2Soil, Water and Environment Research Inst. ARC. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The objective of this work aims to study the land capability classification. Soil limitations factors and soil taxonomy of the soils of El-Fayoum Governorate. The studied area is abounded by longitudes 30° 20- and 31° 10` East and latitudes 29° 02` and 29° 34` north. 16 soil profiles were selected to represent the main geomorphic unites. Soil profiles were morphologically described and soil samples were physio-chemical analyzed. The taxa output were processed and sorted for soil taxonomy and land evaluation . The main results could be briefly summarized as follows: ECe values of the studied area varied from 0.55 to 10.80 dS/m-1 indicating that the studied soils are non saline to moderately saline. Soil reaction is slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline as shown by pH values which ranged between 7.5 to 8.8. Calcium carbonate content ranged from 2 to 71.8%. Soil gypsum content varied from 1.43 to 5.29%. Soil texture classes ranged from clay to loamy sand with a dominance for clayey grade, which cover most of El-Fayoum area. Soil sodacity ranged from non-sodic to sodic, as exchangeable sodium percent (ESP) ranged from 4.86 to 25.9%. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) values ranged from 8.24 to 58.31 m.e. / 100 gm soil. Soil were classified according to the soil taxonomy system using the taxonomy key manual (USDA 2010) into three orders, i.e, Aridisols, Entisols and Vertisols. According to the model of Sys and Verheye (1978) the estimated data of soil criteria, the suitability indices for the studied sixteen soil profiles for current and potential classes. The estimated current ratings of the studied soil profiles ranged between 35.11 and 91.2 indicating that the soils of the studied area could be categorized into three classes (1) suitable soils (S1) the rating of this calss is 91.2 - 77.16 (2) Moderately suitable (S2) the rating of this class is 72.68 – 50.87 (3) Marginally suitable soils (S3) the rating of this classis 49.64 – 35.11. Soil improvement practices should be carried out such as land leveling and removing the excess of soluble salts through applying the gypsum and leaching requirements under an efficient drainage diteches for soils suffering from salinity and alkalinity conditions. Such agro-management practices will correct the ratings of soil potential suitability class for the majority of the studied soils, to be ranged 46.75-95 and potential soil suitability becomes as follows: Suitable soils (S1) the rating of this class is 95 - 76.5. Moderately suitable soils (S2), the rating of this class is 66.5 – 50.75 Marginally suitable soils (S3) the rating of this class is 46.75 | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Soil Taxonomy; Land capability classification | ||||
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