Prediction of Reclamation Processes in Some Saline Soils of Egypt

Abstract

TO ASSESS leaching intensity under different qualities and quantities of water (depend on soil properties) in new reclaimed saline soils of Egypt, four representative soil samples were chosen to find the different variations in the impact of soil Hydrophysical properties on leaching intensity. The studied soil samples were of loamy sand texture class. Laboratory column experiment was achieved using different artificial qualities of water (i.e. 230, 1500 and 3000 ppm), and also different quantities calculated as ratio from the drainable pores. Continuous leaching method was used in this experiment. The residual soluble salts concentration was determined to judge the leaching intensity. The obtained results revealed, in general that pore size distributions, CaCO3% and initial salts concentration in the different soil layers affected the residual salts concentration after leaching processes. In addition, correlation equations were obtained and allow to predict the residual salts concentration after leaching. The obtained prediction equations considered many factors. Among them is salt concentration in the upper layers, pore size distribution, water quality and CaCO3 content.