THE OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT USING REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM IN THE NORTH WEST COAST OF EGYPT

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural development and the increasing agricultural product from the desert areas of Egypt under the pressure of irrigation water scarcity considered as a big challenge of agricultural planners and decision makers. Rainfall is the primary source of irrigation water in the northwest coast of Egypt; however, existing water harvesting techniques in this area do not ensure the optimal use of rainfall for agricultural purposes. This study was carried out to assess basin-scale hydrology potentialities and how available annual rainfall could be used effectively to increase agricultural production across the whole year through new cropping systems. The study area located in the northwest coast of Egypt extending from RasElhekmh to the east to RasAlamElroum to the west (31°27'42.32" to 31° 0'59.80" North) and from (27°15'19.51"E, 27°54'19.51" East) with a total area of 2152 km2 belongs to Matrouh governorate. The depth of the study area is 37 km from the sea when the width is 65km Twenty four surface soil samples (0–40 cm) were collected from outlet points of the studied area. Soil samples obtained were analyzed and then kriging technique was used through ArcGIS software to produce soil characteristics maps (calcium carbonate, texture, pH and soil moisture) using laboratory measurements of soil samples that were collected from expected water outlet locations. The results of the samples were analyzed statistically to understand the relationship between the properties of the soil examined and the extent of their association with each other positive or negative. The land master Plane map was used to determine soil units and soil types present in the study area and to be used to run the Swat model. One soil units map sheets of the land master plan (LMP) was used to characterize the soil of the study area at scale 1:100000. All (LMP) map sheets (soil units) were scanned, digitized, geo-referenced and reviewed. Then, all