An area of 50 fed located at The Experimental Station. Fac. Agric .• AI-Azhar
Univ., Assuit Governorate was chosen to represent the Nile alluvial soils. Five
representative soil proflles were selected to asses the morphological features and the
soil physio-chemical properties. The obtained results indicate that there are no wide
variations in the morphological descriptions among the studied soil profiles and within
each profile. Matrix color varies from dark. brown (10 YR 3i3) to dark. yellowish brown
(10YR 4/4) when was dry and from very dark grayish brown (10YR312) to very dark
brown (10 YR 212) when was moist. The Ap horizon is hard to very hard (dry), firm to
very firm (moist) and slightly sticky to slightly plastic (wet). The subsurface horizons
(C, C, and C2) are very hard to extremely hard (dry). very firm to extremely firm
(mOist) and sticky plastic to very sticky very plastic (wet). The structure varies from
moderate subangular blocky to medium or strong angular blocky. The boundary
differs from clear smooth to diffuse smooth. The soil represented by profile one was
grown by grapes. citrus and fig. while it was grown by wheat for profiles No.2, 3 and
4. The soil of profile 5 was grown by clover. The soil texture class varies from silty
clay to clay, with a rnuttl-depostttcnal regime in some localities due to the differences
in the media of sedimentation. Soil bulk density ranges from 1.19 to 1.39 glcm3 and
mostly shows a regular increase with depth. Plastic limit ranges from 51.34 to 61.48
%, while elastic limit differs from 17.32 to 25.46% and they increase with soii depth.
The plasticity index ranges from 31.49 to 40.09%. The wide variation in these
parameters is more related to the high clay content as well as its activity. The organic
matter content is relatively low (1.24 -1.96 %) and decreases with soil depth. Soils are
salt-free (ECa -= 0.96-1.43 dS/m) , non-calcarecus (CaC03 < 2.55 %) and soil pH is
moderately alkaline (7.99-8,14). The values of exchangeable sodium percentage
range from 1.76 to 6,67 % and tend to increase with depth, Available macro (N, P &
K) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn &Cu) are adequate in the upper layers but low
downwards. According to the suitability classification of Erian at al. (1991), the studied soils
can be grouped into two suitable classes S2 and S3 which include those of deep
profiles, clay textured, non-sallne well drained and almost leveled surface. The
workability is greatly affected and accordingly, these soils should be improved and
ploughed at suitable soil moisture Content. Finally, it can be concluded that the
studied area is mostly considered suitable for cultivating a wide range of crops.