Wadi Qena is one of the largest dry valleys in the eastern desert of Egypt for the agricultural expansion. This study attempted to investigate the best agricultural land use of the middle part of this wadi through its capability and suitability assessment based on its soil characteristics. So, fourty-nine soil profiles were selected and digged to represent the soils of this area in February, 2017. About 136 soil samples were collected from these profiles, according to the standard procedures, to perform the physical and chemical analyses.
The soils under study were fair, poor and non-agricultural capable for agricultural uses. The dominant limiting factors for agricultural use were the coarse soil texture, high salinity and alkalinity, low organic matter content and CEC, as well as the high CaCO3 content.
Results of ASLE software analysis showed that the soils of the study area ranged from S2 (suitable) to NS1 (currently not suitable) for growing wheat, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, pepper, watermelon, date palm, olive, fig and grape. They also varied from SN1 (currently not suitable) to NS2 (permanently not suitable) for growing rice, cotton, sugarcane, onion and cabbage.
This study presents a valuable source for governmental agencies concerned about land reclamation projects along with sustainable agricultural development in such desert areas.