Soil Characterization and Estimation of the Current and Future Productivity of the Faculty of Agriculture Farm, Sohag University, Egypt

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the soils and estimate the current and future land productivity in a part of western Sohag desert. Fourteen soil profiles represented the area where soil samples were collected layer-wise from each. Samples were prepared and analyzed for their physico-chemical and fertility parameters using standard methods of analysis. Soil data were put in models of current and future productivity estimation. Results revealed that, study area was deep (<100cm), well drained, coarse textured, slightly to moderately calcareous (CaCO 3 =4.96% to 11.05%), slightly alkaline (pH=8.06 to 8.37), slightly to moderately saline (EC e =1.16 to 7.00 dS.m -1 ), with low moisture (>5%), organic matter (0.27% to 0.92%), and cation exchange capacity (4.7 to 15.7 cmol(+) kg -1 ). Soils were low to medium in total nitrogen (161 to 533 mg.kg -1 ), low to medium in available phosphorus (3.21 to 8.12 mg.kg -1 ) and low in available potassium (127 to 195 mg kg -1 ), available micronutrients varied between deficient and adequate for cropping requirements. The current productivity situation is extremely poor due to low agricultural activities and poverty in soil content of moisture, organic materials and clay fractions. Improvement processes should be followed such as organic fertilizers addition and dredged clay materials to the soil surface layer for enhancing the land productivity by about 15 to 17 times. The integration of soil surveying, sampling, analysis, and productivity estimation found to be an effective tool for predicting land productivity. These data can be utilized for better land use management, planning for land reclamation, and improving the agricultural productivity.