The aim of this investigation is to study chemical, physical and mineralogical characteristics of some soils in Toshka area, south of Egypt, assess land capability and suitability for growing certain crops. Eighteen soil profile were doge in the studied area. Soil reaction (pH) varied from 6.95 to 8.70. Soil salinity differed from none saline to strongly saline as EC values of the saturated soil paste extract ranged from 2.34 to 48.54 dSm-1. Values of CEC differed from 7.02 to 60.38 cmolckg-1. Calcium carbonate content varied from 0.26 to 17.90%. Gypsum content differed from 0.30 to 11.28%. Organic matter content was very low and did not exceed 1%. Soil texture differed from sand to clayey. The soils show a state of stratification and heterogeneity of parent material. The soils are of multi-origin. The soils could be subjected to restricted or low degree of chemical weathering for a short time and / or a recent depositional regime. All the studied soils are shown to be affected by Nile sediments. The soils are of highly suitable class (S1) and moderately suitable class (S2) in their current and potential conditions. The soils are not suitable in their current conditions (N1) for most of these crops, although some soils may be suitable (S1, S2 and S3) for maize, wheat, barley, sesame, groundnuts, alfalfa, cowpea, carrots, cabbage, watermelons, tomato and olives and permanently not suitable (N2) for carrots, onion, tomato and mango. By applying some improvements on the studied soils, they would be suitable for all the selected crops except for carrots, onion, tomato and mango. |
