Spatial distribution of soil salinity using SALTMED model in El-Beheira governorate, Egypt [electronic resource]

Includes references.

Salinization is a common problem for agriculture in dry environments and it has great effect on land soil productivity. Hence, it is of pressing necessity to quantify the spatial distribution of salinity and its changing trend in space and time and ascertain the driving forces thereof. Recently, SALTMED model was used to define the status of moisture and salinity under environmental changes. SALTMED model runs for various irrigation systems and water application strategies, water of different qualities, variety of crops and trees, different nitrogen-based fertilizers and different soil types. The research is aiming to test the reliability and applicability of SALTMED model in a wide range of Egyptian soil types. The model employed in nine examples of soil profiles representing three geomorphological features, different in their physical and chemical properties, using data from the field work and FAO 56. The obtained results generally, showed significant correlation coefficient between the observed and simulated data of salinity and moisture distributions in the soil profiles of all studied experimental soils. The study recommended using SAL TMED model to estimate soil moisture and salinity distribution of Egyptian soils to be employed in managing agricultural practices and strategies.

Summary in Arabic.

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