THE COASTAL belt in north Sinai is considered as one of the ……most important promising area for agriculture. The study area is located between longitudes 32° 15' and 34° 15' east and latitudes 30° 45' and 31° 15' north. The study aims at the physiographic units delineation and the evaluation of the study area for irrigated agriculture. Evaluation will be aided by geographic data integration and analysis by the modern techniques of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS).
The physiographic units resulted from the geographic data (geologic, topographic and satellite image, ETM acquired in 2008) are: (1) Fluvial Aeolian plains, (2) Sand Dunes, (3) Aeolian plains, (4) Wadi plain, (5) Sabkhas, (6) Sandy Beaches and (7) High Lands. These units were verified by in situ data capture and laboratory analysis. Twenty-five soil profiles were excavated, morphologically examined, classified and sampled to represent the soil types prevailed in the former units.
The soil properties (wetness, texture, depth, CaCO3, gypsum and salinity and alkalinity) were quantified and evaluated for irrigated agriculture. Suitability classes map (S1, S2, S3 and NS) were produced.
The land suitability classes of the study physiographic units are as follows:
· Soils of fluvial Aeolian plains are of class S2 with minor areas of S1.
· Soils of sand dunes are dominated by class S2 with inclusions of S3 and N classes.
· Both of Aeolian plains and wadi plains are dominated by S3 with less abundant by S2.
· Soils of the sabkhas are dominated by S3 and N classes.
· The high land soils are of N suitability class and those of sandy beaches exert S2 class.