Land capability assessment for agriculture at West Assiut, Western Desert, Egypt

Abstract

The objective of this research is to assess the land capability of some soils located at the western portion of Manfalut district, Assuit governorate, Egypt. This study showed that most of the soil profiles of these soils reveal that no clear pattern of gravel content distribution can be noticed with depth. The texture grade of the examined soil samples is mainly sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam and sand clay loam. Organic matter (OM) content ranges between low (0.03%) to high (1.70%). Concerning total calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) content, most of these soil samples are moderately calcareous and strongly calcareous. Furthermore, almost all soil samples have slighty gypsiric (less than 5%). Regarding soil reaction (pH), most of the investigated soil samples are slightly alkaline (7.4 to 7.8 pH). The EC e values of these soil profiles vary between 0.52 and 185.20 dS/m indicated that the studied soils are non-saline to strongly saline. While the cation exchange capacity (CEC) values differ from 2.37 to 15.52 cmol c /kg. Meanwhile the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values range between 0.54 and 23.80%. The soils of the investigated area have been evaluated using the land capability systems. These systems are based on the following parameters such as slope, topography, depth, texture, calcium carbonate content, gypsum content, salinity and alkalinity, cation exchangeable capacity, exchangeable sodium percentage and sodium adsorption ratio. Based on the actual soil properties, land capability for agricultural production was assessed using the ALES and Micro-LEIS systems. These results indicate that the land capability of the study area using automated land evaluation systems (ALES) varies from moderate to unsuitable due to different limiting factors such as soil depth, drainage, soil salinity and soil alkalinity. Whilst the land capability of these soils using MicroLEIS-Cervatana model differs between good class (S2) and Marginal class (N). The findings show that the region currently insufficiency high capability and land capability for most systems which have been used vary from moderate or marginally suitability classes to non-suitable.