There is a considerable lack of essential information about Entisols derived from shale in the arid desert environment. This study was thus carried out to characterize and map the spatial variability of primary properties of Entisols in Dakhla Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. Soil properties of twenty-seven profiles represented by Entisols were carefully examined. Geostatistical analysis was performed to map soil variability based on the ordinary kriging interpolation method. Results show that most of the studied soils (92.1%) were fine and medium in texture. The values of electrical conductivity of soil paste extract (ECe) ranged between 0.45 and 36.40 dS m −1 (mean = 10.35 dS m −1 ). Most of the studied soil samples (82.9%) were extremely low in organic matter (OM) (≤ 3.4 g kg −1 ). The cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranged between 9.37 and 50.84 cmol(+) kg −1 with an average of 29.09 cmol(+) kg −1 . The coefficient of variation was high to very high for sand, ECe, and OM; moderate for silt, clay, saturation percentage, and CEC; and low for the soil pH. Significantly positive and negative correlations were observed among the Entisol properties (at P < 0.01 and/or P < 0.05), and most of these relationships are likely associated with the parent material. Precise maps created efficiently with geostatistics were crucial for a proper understanding of the current spatial variability in the study area. This study provides valuable information and new knowledge about the properties and the spatial variability of this type of Entisols.Keywords Arid environment . Dakhla Oasis . Entisols . Geostatistical analysis . Ordinary kriging . Soil properties Highlights • We investigated the characteristics of Entisols derived from shale in arid desert environment.• This study provides important information about properties of this type of soils, which has a severe lack of information. • Geostatistical analyses provide powerful analytical tools to capture the horizontal variability of soil properties. • The coefficient of variation (CV) is a useful indicator for spatial and vertical variations of soil properties. • The parent material plays an effective role in the diversity of soil properties in the arid regions.
Wadi Qena is one of the largest dry valleys in the eastern desert of Egypt for the agricultural expansion. This study attempted to investigate the best agricultural land use of the middle part of this Wadi through its capability and suitability assessment based on its soil characteristics. So, forty-nine soil profiles were selected and digged to represent the soils of this area in February, 2017. One hundred and thirty six soil samples were collected from these profiles, to perform the physical and chemical analyses.Sand, loamy sand and sandy loam textures were in this area. High variabilities were recorded in the soil salinity (ECe), soil alkalinity (ESP), total calcium carbonate content, soil pH, available N, P and K, soil depth which they varied from 0.83 to 187.6 dSm -1 , from 7.41 to 17.8%, from 7.31 to 51.19%, from 7.70 to 8.81, from 2.3 to 88.8 mg kg -1 , from 1.82 to 11.06 mg kg -1 and from 40 to 920 mg kg -1 and from 50 to >150 cm, respectively. Also, the hydraulic conductivity (HC), the field capacity (FC), the wilting point (WP) and available water capacity (A.W.C) values vary from 2.92 to 38.00 cm/h with an average of 23.32 cm/h, 10.50 to 26.54 v/v % with an average value of 17.03 v/v %, 4.36 to 12.61 v/v % with an average of 7.63 v/v %, and from 4.96 to 18.13 v/v % with an average of 9.40 v/v %, respectively.The studied soils were fair, poor and non-agricultural capable for agricultural uses. The dominant limiting factors for agricultural use were the coarse soil texture, high salinity and alkalinity, low organic matter content and CEC, as well as the high CaCO 3 content.Results of Agricultural Land Suitability Evaluation (ASLE) software analysis showed that the soils of the study area ranged from S2 (suitable) to NS1 (currently not suitable) for growing wheat, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, pepper, watermelon, date palm, olive, fig and grape. They also varied from NS1 (currently not suitable) to NS2 (permanently not suitable) for growing rice, cotton, sugarcane, onion and cabbage.The prevailing limiting factors affecting the suitability of these soils for growing different crops were those of the capability as well as the low nutrient availability. Also, an urgent need is required for specific land improvements of the study area such as controlled fertilizing system, special methods for irrigation and removing gravels. It is recommended to use the organic agriculture system in such region for achieving high economic feasibility.This study presents a valuable source for governmental agencies concerned about land reclamation projects along with sustainable agricultural development in such desert areas.
The original version of this paper was published with error. Figure 3 were corrected into Figs. 3 and 4, but the old titles were used for these two figures and the updated captions which author sent in the last modification of the images were not used. Given in this article are the correct captions.
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