STUDIES ON LAND EVALUATION AND LAND USE OF SOME SOILS IN NORTH DELTA

Abstract

The aim of the current investigation is to evaluate some soils located in north Delta for the agricultural purpose. These soils occupy an area runs generally from Damietta branch in the east to Rosetta branch in the west, . penetrating the old cultivated lands in the south and stretching between longitudes

30° 20• and 31" so• east and latitudes 31o I o• and 31o 36• north.

The area is characterized by three geomorphic units, namely, coastal barrier plains and beaches, fluvio marine deposits and recent Nile alluvial deposits. To fulfill the purpose of this study, thirty one soil profiles were dug along five transects within the studied area to represent all the possible variations between the soils consisting the three geomorphic units. Soil profiles were morphologically described and subjected to the physical and chemical analyses required to attain qualitative and quantitative evaluation for the studied area. The following is a brief summary of the obtained results:

1- Soils of coastal barrier plains and beaches, fluvio marine deposits and recent Nile alluvial deposits were sandy, clay and clay loam to clay, respectively. 2- CaC03 content ranged from 0.08 to 0.84; 0.17 to 8.38 and 0.22 to 2.94% whereas gypsum content varied from 0.II to 3.65; 0.II to 2.09 and 0.09 to 0.52% in the soils of coastal barrier plains and beaches, fluvio marine deposits and recent Nile alluvial deposits, respectively.