Assessment of land sustainability in different regions of the Nile Delta, Egypt, using GIS and remote sensing techniques

The aim of the study was to assess the sustainability of the soils in some regions of the Nile Delta through five parameters (productivity, security, protection, economic viability and social acceptability). The area, lies between latitudes 31°  36'   50.2″ and 30°  34'  35.4″  N and longitudes 30°  21'  59.5″  and 32°  18'  15.8″ E, and occupies 9994.55 km² (999455.83 ha). The landscapes were Flood plain, Aeolian plain and Lacustrine deposits. Thirty soil profiles were dug and ansustainability Land Management Index SLMI model was designed using the spatial geoprocessing tool of ArcGIS (program of producing soil maps) by integration biophysical, socioeconomic and environmental factors for soils of each map. Three SLMI classes were outlined:1: (Class II) representing 54.42% (544187.17 ha) of the total area; it is found in units decantation basins (DB), overflow basins (OB), overflow mantles (OM), high river terraces (RT1) and moderate river terraces (RT2); 2: (Class III) covering 12.86% (128595.43 ha) of the total area, it is found in unit low river terraces (RT3) and relatively high clay (CF1) and 3: (Class IV) did not meet sustainability and found in units sand sheets (SS), relatively low clay (CF2) and wet sabkha (WS), with a total area of 157330.47 ha (15.72% of the total area).