The current study was carried out in an area north of Wadi EI-Natrull, west of
the Nile Delta, Egypt. It included soil classification and land suitability assessment,
which are the main prerequisite steps for ensuring 0 ptimum I and utilization. These
information constitute the main step for any agricultural development. The study of soil
characteristics provides basic information for the evaluation of the naturat resource. In
order to realize this objective. a number of 35 representative soit profiles were studied
morphologically in the field and their physical and chemical characteristics were
determined in the laboratory on representative samples. The sails are classified as;
Typ < /em>ic Torrip < /em>samments, Typ < /em>ic Hap < /em>localctds or Typ < /em>ic Haplogypsids. The soil parameters used to estimate the suitability index for certain crops
are: soil texture including gravel content, soil depth, salinity and alkalinity status,
calcium carbonate status, gypsum status. natural drainage conditions, slope and
nutrient status. Seventeen crops were tested for land suitability evaluation, namely;
alfaifa, barley, maize, soybean, sunflower and wheat (as field crops); cabbage,
carrots. green pepper, onions. ootatoes and tomatoes (as vegetables crops) and
banana, citrus. gU3va, mango and olive (as fruit crops). The obtained results reveal that with using the nutrient and salinity status into
consideration (actual land suitability) the suitability index is downgraded (it could be
rich ton on-suitable class). However, corrections tot he nutrient conditions and soil
salinity (nonpermanent propertles) give what is called potential land suitability. This is
done by adding organic manure, using fertilizers and leaching the excess salts to
upgrade the fertitity of the soil. According to the classlticatlon of FAO (1976) and Sys
(1993) and after correction of nutrient conditions and soil salinity, the suitability index
is upgraded. The main soil characteristics affecting land suitability are: soil texture,
gravel content and calcium carbonate content (permanent properties). The studied
soils are evaluated as moderately, marginally or non-suitable for these crops.