Effect of long-term irrigation with sewage wastewater on land capability of three sites in Sohag governorate, Egypt [electronic resources]

Includes references.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the land capability of three different sites in Sohag Governorate, Egypt where under different periods of irrigation with the sewage waste-water. Nineteen soil profiles were chosen whereas 6, 6 and 7 soil profiles represented Elkoula, Eldair and Elhagarsa sites, respectively. Fifty seven soil samples were collected from the soil profiles (3samples/profile) and then prepared and analyzed for their physico-chemical properties using the standard protocol of analysis. The soils of the three sites were deep, well-drained, coarse textured, neutral, and non-saline. These soils ranged from non-calcareous to calcareous with low content of the soil organic matter and macronutrients. Storie Index was applied for evaluating the land capability in the studied sites. The obtained results revealed that, Elkoula and Elhagarsa soils were under two classes of land capability (G4=poor and G3=fairly good capability) while Eldair soils were under one land capability class (G3=fairly good capability). The mapping of spatial variability distribution of the land capability in the three studied sites was done using the GIS tools. The irrigation of the sewage waste-water affected the land capability of the Elkoula and Elhagarsa sites, while not affected the land capability of the Eldair site. These results and maps can be utilized in the future by the decision makers and stakeholders for better land management of land resources.
Keywords: Capability, Sewage, waste-water, Land evaluation, Storie index, Sohag.

Summary in Arabic.