Status of some trace elements and heavy metals in the soils of Dakhla Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt [electronic resource]: 1.trace elements.

Includes references.

The soils of West El-Gedida, Dakhla Oasis (between latitudes 25° 33` and 25° 39' N and longitude 28° 40` and 28° 46` E) represent 43560 feddan. These soils were investigated to assess their contents of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. A total of 36 samples representing 9 virgin and cultivated soil profiles were grouped into three soil groups, namely: coarse to moderately coarse-textured soils represented by profiles 1, 2 and 3; moderately fine to fine-textured soils with coarse surface represented by profiles 4, 5 and 6 and moderately fine to fine-textured soils represented by profiles 7, 8 and 9. Soils samples were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties. Total and DTPA-extractable contents of the studied elements were also determined. These soils are of variable texture (coarse sand to clay), having low contents of CaCO₃ and organic matter. Most soils were saline having EC of paste extract exceeding 4.0 dSm⁻¹. The mean total content of the studied elements in the different soil groups ranged from 7470.7 to 8476.25, 250.89 to 399.48, 18.49 to 29.88 and 7.73 to 14.42 mgkg⁻¹ for Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, respectively.

Summary in Arabic.

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