Pedological studies for some soil on sides of the Ismailia Canal in the Eastern part of Nile Delta in Egypt (original) (raw)
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ALEXANDRIA SCIENCE EXCHANGE JOURNAL, 2017
Perception of soil's history is an essential in addressing the imperious issues related to the sustainable agricultural development and land degradation in the hyper arid and arid regions. Therefore, the current work was undertaken to appraise of pedogenesis and parent material uniformity using Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM) technique. Five soil profiles (P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5) were selected for study on a topo-sequence model representing most of ground elevations of some soils adjacent to Bani Mazar-El Boiety road at western hyper arid desert of El Minia, Egypt (30 о 15`40" to 30 о 28`58"E and 28 о 31`40" to 28 о 33`00"N 100 to 170 m A.S.L.;54 km 2). The data of CCSEM showed that the weighted means (%) correlated to the ground elevation of Opaque minerals varied between 30.18 at (150-160 m; P4) and 43.81 at (140-150 m; P2) while Pyroboles diverged between 40.85 at (150-160 m; P4) and 92.80 at (140-150 m; P5), Zircon (Z) ranged between 0.85 at (140-150 m; P2) and 15.79 at (160-170 m; P3), Rutile (R) values were 2.14 at (160-170 m; P3) and 30.09 at (150-160 m; P4), contents of Tourmaline (T) were 0.72 at (110-120 m; P1) and 6.51 at (150-160 m; P4), Garnet varied between 0.17 at (160-170 m; P3) and 0.86 at (140-150 m; P2) within the studied soils, reflecting the heavy mineral suite was influenced by topo-sequence of the research area also indicating the study soils are recently formed, weakly developed, and have low effect of pedogenic processes. Irregular vertical distribution with depth of Z/T, Z/R, Z/R+T ratios, and index figure proved that soil parent materials were stratified in nature and apparently formed of multi-depositional regimes. Scanning electron micrographs also confirmed that the investigated soils most probably transported and originated by water agent to distances not far away. The same conclusions have been indicated by applying the grain size analysis of sand fraction reported by Folk and Ward (1957).
Mineralogical and chemical composition of the clay fraction of some Nile aluvial soils in Egypt
Chemical Geology, 1976
Mineralogical analyses of the clay fraction of some typical alluvial soils of the Nile delta were carried out using X-ray, thermal and chemical analysis in addition to cation-exchange capacity (CEC), surface area, and K-fixation measurements. The results indicated that the average mineralogical composition was: montmorillonite, 48–56; kaolinite, 15–18; mica, 5–11; feldspars, 5; quartz, 3–5 and free oxides, 11–16%. This composition did not change significantly with depth or location of sampling and was very similar to the Nile load sediment itself.Chemical composition and structural formulas of the dominant montmorillonitic minerals were calculated. The calculated values indicated that the dominant smectite mineral is an Fe-rich montmorillonite with isomorphous substitution of Al3+ for Si4+ in tetrahedra similar to mica. The octahedral positions were filled with a total number of around 2 atoms of Fe3+, Al3+ and Mg2+. The total negative charge was around 0.520 charge per unit cell or ignited material. It was concluded that the dominant clay mineral is an aluminian nontronite, i.e., Fe-rich smectite with high CEC and low K-fixation capacity. The possibility of some admixing within the 2:1 minerals in these soils was not excluded.
Soil Genesis and Uniformity of Wadi Al-Queh, Al-Quseir, Red Sea Coast, Egypt
Alexandria Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Red Sea coastal zone within the "Golden Triangle" national project is brought out as promising agrarian expansion. Wadi Al-Queh is one of the drainage basins located east of Red Sea Mountains with buoyancy water and soil resources. Current study aimed at investigating soils of wadi Al-Queh with respect to their genesis and degree of homogeneity based on the mineralogical analysis. Four landforms were recognized running east to west namely; bajada plain, wadi terraces, mid-stream wadi course and piedmont plain. Twenty nine soil samples were selected representing eight georeferenced profiles to embody all variations in the different landforms. To recognize the prevailing depositional environmental conditions, samples were subjected to granulometric analysis for the sand fraction. Heavy and light minerals of fine sand fraction were estimated. The uniformity ratios among resistance minerals of zircon, rutile, and tourmaline were calculated. Weathering ratios (Wr1, Wr2, and Wr3) between the non-resistance and resistance minerals were used as criteria for investigating parent materials uniformity and consequently the degree of soil development. Obtained results revealed the dominance of quartz with 89.15-98.85% of the total light minerals. Opaque minerals are composed essentially by iron oxides in the range 37.75-71.25% of the total heavy minerals. Frequencies of transparent minerals indicate the contribution of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary sources in soil derivation at whole landforms. They were mostly derived from Nubian sandstone, limestone, conglomerate, breccia, granite, basalt, and schist during Tertiary to Recent ages. Obvious heterogeneous distribution of calculated weathering and uniformity ratios with depth depicted that most of the studied soils were poorly sorted, poorly developed and mostly composed of more than one parent material under multi-depositional environments conditions with non-uniform in nature. Water as the major erosional agent contributes in rifting the wadi paths between mountainous blocks towards east direction. Weathered materials from igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic sources were deposited to form a great outwash plain in which the soils under consideration were stratified. In conclusion, it is quite clear that soils of wadi Al-Queh represented an apparent discontinuity or a type of irregular interstratifications due to geogenetic weathering, mostly related to a multi-origin and/or multi depositional regime.
Menoufia Journal of Soil Science
The studied area belongs to El-Farafra Oasis, New Valley Governorate. It is representing an area of about 372062 feddans. The aim of this work was to study the geomorphology, characteristics and mineralogy of some soils in El-Farafra Oasis, New Valley governorate, Egypt. Visual interpretation of 2 sentinel images and digital elevation model (DEM) were used to produce the geomorphic units and soil maps of the studied area. Two geomorphic units were identified namely plateau and depression floor. Eighty-two minipits and eighteen soil profiles were chosen to represent the main soil mapping units in the studied area. Soil samples were collected from the representative soil profiles for physical, chemical and mineralogical analysis. The results could be summarized as follows: X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that kaolinite is alternatively dominated in the studied soils (about 80 %) followed by smectite. Illite, interstratified minerals and chlorite are found as the lowest abundant clay minerals in these soils. The mineralogical composition of the sand fraction indicated that, the light fraction is composed almost entirely of quartz which constitutes about 95%. Feldspar minerals (orthoclase plagioclase and microcline) are detected in trace amounts. The presence of feldspars indicates that, the soils are young from the pedological point of views. Heavy minerals are generally dominated by opaque's (about 55 %). Non-opaques are mainly dominated by pyroboles (pyroxenes + amphipoles) followed by ultra-stable minerals (zircon, rutile and tourmaline), Para metamorphic minerals (garnet, kyanite, staurolite, silimanite) and epidote. While the other minerals (biotite andalusite, glaucohite and apatite) are detected in less pronounced amounts. Distribution of the resistant minerals (biotite and amphipoles) weathering ratio, values indicate that, the soils are generally heterogeneous either due to their multi-origin or due to a subsequent variation along the course formation.
Soils developed in the alluvium terraces of the River Nile at Khartoum North, Sudan was analyzed in an attempt to classify it as well as to refer them to their origin. Three river terraces comprising nine profiles were selected to cover the physiographic positions. Lack of B horizon and carbonate accumulation were main pedogenic processes in subsurface horizons, whereas orhric epipedon was developed on top soil surface. The microscopic inspection of heavy sand mineralogy indicated that the origin of the sand was the Ethiopian plateau. The most abundant clay mineral was smec-tite, followed by illite, kaolinite and chlorite. The presences of micas (illite) and chlorite in all studied soil samples might emphasize that these soils were young from the pedological viewpoint and less weathered. The soils of the River Nile terraces at Khartoum North were classified into: Typic Torrifluvents (1st terrace), Entic Haplocambids (2nd terrace) and Typic Haplocambids (3rd terrace). Mineralogy analysis indicated that the Entisols and Aridisols of the River Nile terraces in the study area had the same origin that of the igneous and metamorphic rocks from Ethiopian plateau .
Mineralogical and petrographical studies of agricultural soil, Assiut Governorate, Egypt
Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 2019
Background: The lack of information about the Egyptian soil needs more attention, especially mineralogical, petrographical studies, and quality data. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of north Assiut agricultural soil; pH, moisture%, CaCO 3 %, organic matter (OM%), and mineralogical contents of the studied soil. Results: The studied soil is characterized by alkaline nature, low organic matter, and high CaCO 3 %. Mineralogically, the studied agricultural soil samples consist mainly of quartz, plagioclase, and minor calcite (as non-clay minerals), as well as montmorillonite, vermiculite, and illite in decreasing abundance order as clay minerals. The plagioclase consists of two minerals; calcined albite and anorthite. Conclusion: The clay minerals in the studied soils may be derived from the old alluvial plain (Plio-Pleistocene sediments) by successive Nile floods and reworking. The recorded clay minerals in the studied soils are montmorillonite, vermiculite, and illite in decreasing order of abundance. They have the ability to retain the irrigation water and adsorb more exchangeable cations in aqueous media which can feed the plants.
Assessing Changes in Soil Properties in the Eastern Part of the Nile Delta over a Long Term Period
The properties of alluvial soils eastern part of Nile delta based on geomorphological zones are studied. Water characteristics, soil physical and chemical properties were studied during 24–40 years. The results showed that the highest soils quality of alluvial zone are located in young terraces. In a zone of coastal plain the salinization processes are active. On the other hand old terraces are dominated by aeolian processes. Keywords: Nile delta, properties of alluvial soils, geomorphological zone
Genesis and Uniformity of Some Soils in West El-Minia, Western Desert, Egypt
Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches
A total of 216 pedons were regularly distributed throughout 130,000 Faddan across the Darb Al-Bahnsawy area at West El-Minia Governorate, Central Egypt representing the major variations in the site. Soil pedons were pedomorphologically described and soil samples were collected from genetic horizons. The toposequence soil transect across a slope gradient (95-135 m) was selected for identifying the origin and homogeneity of the soils under study. To demonstrate uniformity or discontinuity of parent material, the weathering indices of Wr1, Wr2, and Wr3 were performed besides uniformity indices of UV1 and UV2. Five different soil types were distinguished based on soil depth, soil texture, and surface topography. The investigated soils were coarse-textured and widely varied from deep (>100cm) to shallow (<50 cm). Moreover, they also were classified into different categories based on the gypsum content; slightly gypsiric, moderately gypsiric, and strongly to extremely gypsiric soils, and the gypsic horizons were developed on upper slopes. Some studied soils were affected by the calcareous nature. The investigated soils had different horizonation sequences which are C-2Cyy for shallow soil, C1-C2-2Cyy and C-2C1yy-2C2yy for moderately deep soils, C-Ck-2Cy-2Cr and C-Ck-2C-3C for deep soils. Most soils were formed through geologic processes with no evidence of pedogenesis, except for calcic horizons (Ck) formed on lower slope soils, and gypsic horizons (2C1yy and 2C2yy) formed on upslope soils over the studied toposequence transect. Lithologic discontinuities in most pedons revealed sequences of deposition and erosion processes and the heterogeneity of the parent material. The difference in sand and silt separates of UV1 index on a carbonate-free and clay-free basis was consistent with the vertical distribution of rock fragments within the pedon. The light minerals associations in the studied soils were dominated by quartz, gypsum, feldspars, calcite, mica, and chlorite. Heavy mineral percentages (1.46-16.34%) were increased from the west to the east of the investigated transect across the slope gradient. The highest concentration of heavy minerals (10.09-16.34%) was detected in the lower soils. The identified heavy minerals were pyroxene (augite and hyperthene), amphiboles (hornblende and actinolite), garnet, staurolite, kyanite, zircon, tourmaline, rutile, epidote, zoisite, biotite, monazite, glaconite, and opaques. Opaque minerals (39.33 to 61.33%) constitute the most predominant constituent in all studied soil samples. The heavy minerals characteristics suggest their mixed sources from sandstone, limestone, and metamorphic rocks. Limestone plateau was the main source of soil regolith, the uniformity ratios depict heterogeneous distribution with depth that may be due to the sedimentation processes which act upon most soils. The sediments were immature to submature based on ZTR index. Various genetic stages of gypsic horizons development were proposed in the current study. Gypsum materials originated within the studied sediments from the weathering of the surrounding Eocene white limestone plateau. The results of weathering indices curves demonstrated that the soils under study are formed from multi-origin under multi-depositional regimes.
Classification and Evaluation of Wadi Abu Omira Soils, West of Matrouh North Western Coast, Egypt
Alexandria Science Exchange Journal, 2021
The northwest coastal region of Egypt is one of the most promising areas for agricultural development that due to its distinction in that it has all the resources and components of development available in one place.The study area was carried out on Wadi Abu Omira locate in the north western coast of Egypt west Marsa Matruh city to identify the geomorphic units and landforms in the study area as well as, classified the soils according to their taxonomy and land capability. The study area occupies an area of 1600 feddan and landforms were determined by geomorphological and topographical maps. Twenty three profiles have been selected to represent the main landform units in the soils study. The study area could be categorized by two orders namely Entisols and Aridisols. The Aridisols subgroups namely classified as Typic haplocalcids, lithic Torripsamments and Typic Torripsamments. The main diagnostic horizons of Aridisls are calcic horizons while Entisols are less developed soils. The different properties of the study area are profile depth, texture and topography properties, three soil mapping units were differentiated, deep coarse to moderately coarse textured, moderately deep coarse to moderately coarse textured, shallow coarse to moderately coarse textured soil. The field investigations showed that, 11.00% of the studied area has deep profile, moderately deep 38.00% while shallow depth covers only 51.00%. Regarding to the texture of the soil under study, 55.26 % to 44.73 of the area were sandy loam to loamy sand soil and the rest of area has either sand or sandy clay loam texture. Most of the area considered non saline to slightly saline and the studied area is moderately calcareous to extremely calcareous. According to USDA (1962), the study area classified into four capability classes II cover 154 feddan (9.63%), III cover 199 feddan (12.43%), VII cover 637 feddan (39.81%) and VIII cover 610 feddan (38.13%). According to FAO (2006), the current suitability of these soils can be placed at class S1 (slightly suitable), S2 (moderately suitable) S3, (marginally suitable) and N (unsuitable). The most limiting factors in the studied soils are profile depth, salinity index (EC), and available water (AW) while the rest limitation factors represent minor limitations. The present study is a trial to evaluate soil potentialities of this region in terms of land capability classification. In future such work will be useful as around basis for agricultural development policy of that region.
Origin and distribution of the heavy minerals of surficial and subsurficial sediments has been investigated in the alluvial Nile River terraces, Khartoum North, Sudan. Heavy mineral assemblages in the very fine sand fraction (0.063 -0.125 mm) of 10 sediment samples were identified using petrography microscope. Results of descriptive statistical parameters revealed that most sediments samples belonged within very poorly sorted to extremely poorly sorted, strongly negative skewed to strongly positive skewed and mesokurtic to very leptokurtic. The quartz was the dominant in the opaque minerals in all sediments. The non-opaque heavy minerals were dominant by zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet, sillimanite, and andalusite. Results revealed that the ultrastable minerals (zircon, tourmaline and rutile) were found in all sediments with range from (2% -47.36%, 2.08% -29% and 3% -24.99%), respectively. Garnet, sillimanite and andalusite were also found with range from (5% -67%, 1% -9.09% and 1% -50%), respectively. Heavy mineral assemblage indentifies sources that are not bounded to the local origin. The proportion and presence of heavy minerals from outside source rocks indicated relatively strong reworking of zircon sand from the outer-shelf to inner-shelf as well relatively long distance of transport. Fluvial and Aeolian sediments were the dominant environments in the investigated area. We conclude that most heavy minerals in the study area are originally derived from gneisses and schist metamorphic rocks and some igneous rocks of the Ethiopian plateau.