Evaluation of Water Types and Soil Characteristics for Selection Suitable Crops in Sarabiyum, Esmalia Area, Egypt
Keywords:
Hydrogeochemical facies, Hypothetical salts, Ionic ratios, Soil profile and analysis, Groundwater contamination, Soil fertility, Suitability of agriculture crops, Soil & water qualityAbstract
The focusing of paper was aiming to the relation between groundwater types and soil characteristics to select the plant suitability index. Potential sources of groundwater recharge of both water and solutes to the quaternary aquifer and the upward flow of groundwater from the underlying Miocene aquifer system. Water samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical properties, besides of the major chemical compositions, ionic ratio A) HCO3/Cl;B) Na/Ca ;C) Na/Cl;D) Ca/Cl;E) Mg/Cl;F) K/Cl;G) SO4/Cl;H) Mg/Ca;I) Ca/SO4;J) Ca/HCO3;K) CEV;L) SAR;M) Na/(Ca+Mg);N) HCO3/(Cl+SO4) ;O) Ca/(SO4+HCO3) was used to delineate saline water intrusion. The chemical reactions responsible for the chemical constituents and salinity in the aquifer include silicate weathering, evaporate dissolution, and carbonate precipitation. Most of groundwater samples appear to lie at/or close to equilibrium with clay minerals where clay minerals are quite common in the local soils of the quaternary aquifer. Irrigation management led to a better use of the available groundwater. Soil texture is variable from clay to coarse sand at the soil surface. Hypothetical salts combination and sodium adsorption ratio in groundwater & fresh water of Ismailia canal and soil profiles were tested. In using our lands for reclamation, one should evaluate the soil resources for land suitability for crops. Land suitability maps are prepared using the Geographic Information System, and the soil properties are analyzed and evaluated for most irrigated crops in Ismalia Land suitability maps are prepared using the Geographic Information System (GIS), and the soil properties are analyzed and evaluated for most irrigated crops in Ismalia. Results indicated that the area under investigationis currently suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S4) for semi-annual and permanent crops. The main limitations revealed in the soils were soil texture, drainage, and soil salinity.
