STUDIES OF SOME SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN RELATION TO SOIL EROSION IN HALAIB

Abstract

Soil erosion by water is a serious problem in Halaib soil. To study this problem four wadis were chosen to represent this area, i.e. Sermatia, Odiap, Doaet and Deep Craft. Thses wadis were studied up- down slope positions to evaluate the impact of erosion on soil characteristics. This study aims to assess soil erosion phenomenon through the following items:• 1- Estimating soil loss by water 2- Studying some soil physical properties that have been influenced by soil erosion. Five soil profiles were dug up• down slope (3-5 Km length) for each wadi. Soil loss by water was estimated using the Universals Soil Loss Equation (SULE) as follows: A= R.K. LS. C. P, where: A = estimated average annual soil loss, mt/ha, R = rainfall erosivity factor based on Ebo index. K = soil erodibility factor, mt/joule LS= slope length- steepness factor dimensions C =Cropping management factor dimensionless p = conservation practices factor..... Soil samples were taken from the profiles at 0-10, 10• 20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm depths to study the main soil physical properties of the studied area as influenced by water erosion. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: 1- Rainfall erosivity factor "R" was estimated as352 J/ha. using the data obtained from the meteorological station as Ela0. 1- Soil erodibility factor "K" was estimated to (0.45 t/j). 2- Soil length- steepness factor "LS" was estimated to (0.085). 3- Crop management factor "C" and conservation practices factor "P" were considered unity. Thus the predicted soil loss via water erosion was estimated to (14.59 Mt/ha/yr).