Evaluation of land suitability for agricultural use in el-Nubaria Region, Egypt

Abstract EN

The current study was carried on a newly reclaimed area of El-Nubaria where major of agricultural project for development is underway West of the Nile Delta, Egypt.

The objective was to determine the capability and suitability of soils which are marine- lacustrine silty clay soils with shallow to medium depth in El-Nubaria region.

The system of evaluation was on ASLE model (Applied System of Land Evaluation) integrated with the geographic information system (GIS).

Three soil profiles were chosen (representing the pre-specified geomorphological soil unit) which were morphologically described and samples were analysed.

Spatial thematic distribution maps of soil characteristics were created for the study unit using GIS software; Arc GIS V.

10.3.

Three current land productivity classes were recognized class 2 "good soil productivity" for profile 3; class 3 "fair soil productivity" for profile 2 and class 5 "very poor soil productivity" for profile 1.

Soil limitations were water table depth, carbonates, texture, irrigation water salinity, alkalinity (ESP) and organic matter.

Wheat, barley, alfalfa, sunflower, cotton, date palm and olive were the optimum crops for land use in the study unit.