Soil Quality as Indicated by Physical and Chemical Properties in Some Tanta Areas, Nile Delta, Egypt Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques.

The present study aimed at assessing the physical and chemical quality of the soils in Tanta area of El-Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. Its area is 33760 ha (located between longitudes 30°45′ and 31°20′ Е and latitudes 30°35′ and 31°15′ N). The mapping units in the study area: overflow basin (OB), high river terrace (RT1), moderate river terrace (RT2), low river terrace (RT3). Nine soil profiles were selected to represent Tanta area soils in addition to 18 soil samples. Twelve physio-chemical parameters which used to assess soil quality were chosen to evaluate soil quality including; texture (T), drainage (D), effective depth (P), parent materials (M), rock fragment (R), slope gradient (S), hydraulic conductivity (H), water holding capacity (W), electrical conductivity (C), soil reaction (O), exchangeable sodium percentage (G) and calcium carbonate (N). Results showed that Tanta district could be classified into one class according to the physical quality measures (moderate), while results of chemical quality index revealed two classes (high and moderate). Over 44% of the soil of Tanta area is of moderate soil quality index while 55.51% is of low soil quality index according to both physical and chemical parameters. The low soil quality dominates the areas characterized by shallow depth, poor drainage and hydraulic conductivity. The results demonstrated that management of soil practices should be carefully associated with soil characteristics.