Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies - Department of Natural Resources

Kom Ombo western plain occupies about 321.000 feddans. It extends in the western side of Kom Ombo district, Aswan Governorate. It runs parallel to the alluvial soils of the Nile valley between Idfu and Aswan sites. The aim of this investigation is to study physical, chemical and mineralogical Characteristic of Kom Ombo western plain soils in order to evaluat their capability and suitability for growing main crops using RS, GIS and Sys - Arid system.To fulfill these objectives, Santinal 2 images and digital elevation model (DEM) of the studied area were used to define the geomorphic units. The geomorphic units of the area under considerations could be grouped and described as recent alluvial terraces, old alluvial terraces, Pediplain, alluvial plain, Wadi plain and rock outcrop.The different landforms were represented by 22 Soil profiles, the morphological description was carried out and 64 disturbed soil samples were collected for physical, chemical and mineralogical analysis. The obtained results revealed that all studied soils could be categorized into two orders Aridisols and Entisols and are classified up to the family Level under five Sub great groups namely, Typic Haplosalids. Typic Torrifluvents, Vertic Torrifluvents, Vertic Torriorthents, and Typic Torriorthents. Mineralogical composition of the clay fraction separated from some soil layers representing Kom Ombo western plain and clay minerals were identified. using X-ray.The results indicated that the studied soils are dominated by Kaolinite followed by smectite with less pronounced occurrence of illite and chlorite. The identified accessory minerals were also dominanted by quartz and feldspars.Calcite, dolomite and apatite were also detected but occurred in few amounts in some samples.

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