Evaluation of Soil Fertility Using Multivariate Analysis and GIS in Moghra Oasis, Egypt

 
 
 
 



 



          UNDERSTANDING spatial variability of soil properties ……..is important for refining soil fertility management that leads to high crop yields at reduced crop production costs and helps protect the environment. This study was undertaken in order to create soil management zones in the Moghra Oasis, North-East Qattara Depression, Egypt on the basis of variation in several soil parameters. Representative soil samples were collected at two depths (0-30 cm and 30-60 cm) from the study area. Substantial variation was observed in elevation, soil salinity, pH, available P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B of the soils. Spatial variability pertaining to soil parameters was studied using kriging technique in GIS. Principal component analysis was performed in order to detect patterns, groupings, similarities or differences of soil parameters. The analysis showed that soil salinity, elevation and pH are the parameters that function as indicators of the multiple soil parameters in the study area. Accordingly, overlay process was performed between these parameters and five distinct zones were created. This can be considered a system for grouping soils according to the main fertility-related soil constraints and yield-limiting factors for specific agronomic management. Therefore, these zones should be helpful to the decision makers to commence exploiting the areas with fewer constraints as well as optimizing the agricultural inputs.