CLASSIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF SOME SOILS IN WESTERN SIDE OF NILE DELTA

Abstract

The aim of the current work is to study the morphological, physio-chemical and mineralogical characteristics of some soils in the interference zone located in western side of Nile Delta as well as their classification according to two systems and evaluation using two systems. This may help to understand how to deal with these soils for agricultural use. The studied area covers soils • adjacent to Nile alluvial sediments in the western side of Nile Delta. It is located between longitudes 30°and 31o E, and Latitudes 30° 1T and 31° N. For the current work, twelve soil profiles were selected at three latitudinal transects. Soil profiles were dug-out, and morphologically described. The main diagnostic soil horizons were identified and sampled on the basis of the morphological characteristic features . Disturbed soil samples were taken representing different soil horizons for integrated physical, chemical and mineralogical analyses. Based on the morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of the studied soil profiles, and according to the meteorological data, the studied soils were classified with regard to two systems namely, the Soil Taxonomy of Soil Survey Staff (1975) and (1994) and the Fertility Capability Classification (FCC) of Sanchez et al (1982).