Soliman, M.M.; Abdellatif, A.D.; Hasanin, A. E. and Massoud. I.E.E.( 2012). Remote sensing and gis based land capability classification of the soils located in the western side of el- miniya governorate, western desert.J. Biol. Chem. Environ. Sci., 2012, Vol. 7(3): 349-373
Abstract: This study aims to use satellite images and Geographical information system (GIS) for digital soil mapping and capability assessment of the soil in the western side of El- Miniya Governorate, Western Desert. To fulfull this objective landsat ETM image and
digital elevation model (DEM) of the studied area were used to define the physiographic of the studied area. Fourteen soil profiles were selected to represent the main physiographic units, the morphological description was carried out and 50 disturbed soil samples were collected for physical and chemical analysis. The correlation between
landforms and soils were carried out then the soil maps were compiled using the Arc- GIS 9.3 software. The results indicate that the studied area include eight physiographic, i.e, alluvial fan (6.29%), sand dunes (10.94%), young terraces (2.5%), Old terraces (4.83%), Bajada plain (13.57%), Wadi bottom (0.79%), rock land (39.76%) and longated sand dunes (21.36%). Using US taxonomy bases (2010), the studied soils could be classified and mapped into four taxonomic units, Typic Haplocalcids, Calcic Haplosalids, Gypsic Haplosalids and Calcic Haplogypsids sub great groups. According to land evaluation system undertaken by Sys and Verheye (1991), the studied soils are affected by many of limiting factors, i.e, soil texture, CaCO3 content and salinity and alkalinity with variable intensity degrees. Also, the current suitability of the studied soils assessed two classes of marginally suitable soils (S3, Wadi bottom and alluvial fan) and unsuitable soils (N1, old and young terraces, Wadi bottom, alluvial fan and Bajada plain). By executing suitable soil improvement practices, the potential suitability classes assessed two classes i.e, moderately suitable soils (S2) with total area about 81188.5 feddans and marginally suitable (S3) with total area a about 109846 feddans.
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