Afify A. Afify, Sayed M. Arafat , Nagwan M. Afify and Magdy H. Khider( 2012). Urban Extention Impact Over Nile Delta In Qalub Disrict, Qalubiya Governrate, Egypt Using Remotely Sensed DataJ. Biol. Chem. Environ. Sci., Vol .7(2) 511-523
Abstract: The study area is representing Nile Delta by Qalub District (Markaz) covering total area of 29030.4 feddans in Qalubiyah province. The urban change detection was based on the spectral signatures of the satellite data Thematic Mapper (TM) that were acquired in the years 1985 and 1990; Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) for the year 2001and SPOT-4 data for the year 2010. The satellite data were interpreted to specify the physiographic feature while the associated soil were classified and evaluated. The change detection cleared that, the urban encroachment is denaturing a very fertile alluvium, which cannot be developed in elsewhere even with a high capital intensity and daily expensive energy. This retreated alluvium represents unique physiographic-soil characteristics in flat Delta Apex, which is dominated by Vertisols. These Vetisols are categorized as "Typic Haplotorrerts, fine, hyperthermic and Leptic Haplotorrerts, fine over fine loamy, hyperthermic". These Vertisols are locally intercepted by the taxonomic unit of Typic Torriorthents, fine loamy , hyperthermic The retreated physiographic-soil characteristics against the urban encroachment were evaluated for the common practiced cropping patterns in Nile Delta. The evaluated retreating land is high suitability (S1) for all those cropping patterns. The urbanized areas within different periods were in sequent assessment as 1735.0, 1976.8, 3763.5 and 6216.5 feddans in the years 1985, 1990, 2001and, 2010 respectively. After each period of denaturing the cultivated land the residual cultivated land was subjected to a higher rate of loss per year. These rates were 48.4, 162.4 and 272.6 feddans per year corresponding to the periods of 1985 to 1990, 1990 to 2001and 2001 to 2010 respectively. Under these retreating rates, the duration of its entire loss was assessed to be within 83.7 years based on the last monitored period 2001 to 2010. The crises in turn will be a serious reason of deteriorating the social features on the Nile Delta. The assessment of this entire loss is most probably will be more serious if it detected in some other areas or in more recent caching up. This valued cultivated land must be kept as an agricultural protectorate for the current and later on food security of Egypt.
Keywords: (Urban encroachment, Nile Delta alluvium, remote sensing techniques.)
