Using GIS Tools and Remote Sensing Data to Assessment of Land Capability and Suitability for Agriculture in New Aswan Area, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 1. Soils and water, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt

2 Soils and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University, Egypt

Abstract

The western part of Aswan City in Upper Egypt represents one of the high-priority regions for future development that witness any investment opportunities and agricultural and socioeconomic growth. In this study, we have used soil data and remote sensing in combination with geographic information system (GIS) tools to evaluate land capability and suitability for agriculture. For this purpose, 40 soil profiles were selected to represent the area under study. The land capability of the study area was done using the ASLE program, and the Modified Storie Index. Land suitability of the study area was performed using the ASLE software. The results of the ASLE land capability assessment indicated that about 17.5% (175 hectares) of the total area is good (C2), 17.5% (175 hectares) is fair (C3), and 65% (650 hectares) is poor (C4) soils for agricultural use. Depending on the Modified Storie Index program, the results showed that 75 hectares (7.5%) of the total study area are considered good, 650 hectares (65%) are considered fair, 225 hectares (22.5%) were poor for agricultural use, and 50 hectares (5%) were considered as non-agricultural that have moderate to severe limitations and they are unsuitable for growing crops. The results also revealed that due to the existence of various soil-specific characteristics, the suitability of these soils for the majority of the proposed crops ranged from appropriate (S1) to unsuitable (NS1 and NS2) for the chosen crops. The major limiting factors in the study area for irrigated agriculture were coarse texture, gravel content, sometimes high salinity, alkalinity, and high CaCO3 content.

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 October 2023
  • Accept Date: 28 December 2023

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