Potentialities of soil taxa common in the landscape of valleys in the arid Mediterranean region

Abstract

The study was carried out to establish soil map. Land evaluation was made according to MicroLEIS models. The study area is Naghamish valley, North Western coast of Egypt. The study indicated that the study area could be distinguished into seven landforms. Twenty-two soil profiles, spatially distributed upon Sentinel-2A satellite image classification to represent the landforms of wadi Naghamish's basin. They were morphologically described, their chemical and physical properties were determined, and their diagnostic characteristics were pointed. Results point out, in terms of topography, profile depth and soil texture, ten soil units could be identified. The study area could be distinguished into five sub great soil groups. Cervatana model reveals that 64.25% of soils are considered non-productive, 22.64% is moderately capable, whereas only 0.54% and 2.64% of the total area range from excellent to good capable land for agricultural production, respectively. The rest of the area occupying 9.94% is associated with urban settlement and escarpment landform units. At subclass level, there are S3l and S3r, referring to moderate capability with slight constraint severity and S3lr specifying those affected by severe soil constraints and erosion risk. Regarding soil suitability for some selected crops, the results of Almagra model indicated that the soils formed on the coastal plain vary from suitable to marginally suitable, in contradiction of soils formed on the wadi course, piedmont plain and tableland of plateau vary from marginally suitable to unsuitable in general for most tested crop as affected by limiting factors related to very shallow to shallow depth, high lime content, light soil texture and very poor to poor drainage.