Impact of soil degradation on land qualities of some areas of El-Qaluibiea Governorate, Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Soil degradation is defined as a process, which lowers (quantitatively or qualitatively) the current and/or the potential capability of soil to produce goods or services. Soil degradation implies a regression from a higher to lower state; a deterioration in soil productivity and land capability. The main objective of this study is to produce a geometrically corrected physiographic-soil map of scale 1: 100.000 reduced to the attachment map scale 1: 250.000 for the studied areas as a base for monitoring the changes in land qualities. This part of study based on the comparison between the data extracted from the reports and the data of this study carried out in the year 2005 for 15 selective profiles in seven representative districts of Qaluibiea Governorate. Based on the aerial photo-interpretation and GIS tools coupled with the field work and laboratory analysis data, the physiographic soil map was produced. The result indicated that the studied areas is considered as unstable ecosystem due to active degradation resulting from climate, relief, soil properties and unproper farming system. The most active land degradation features are; Waterlooging. Salinization, Alkalinization and Compaction. GLASOD Approach is used in land degradation assessment.

Summary in Arabic.

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