This study aims to assess and mapping the land capability and soil degradation in Reyad province, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. To achieve this purpose, satellite images were interpreted and handled using GIS technique. Thirty soil profiles in addition to fifty-six minipits were chosen representing soils of the studied area.
The soil units of the studied area were created and mapping based on the spatial variability of soil salinity and soil sodicity. The results indicated that, the largest soil unit with about 56.5% of the total studied area is "slightly saline, non-sodic soils". The second unit is the "slightly saline, sodic soils" that occupies about 5% of the studied area. In addition, "moderately saline, non-sodic soils" unit occupies 3.5% from studied area as small patches. Another "moderately saline, sodic soils" unit covers about 2.3%. The smallest unit is “highly saline, sodic soils" that covers about 1% of the total studied area. The variations between soil units are rendered mainly to the using of agricultural drainage water in irrigation.
The capability evaluation indicated that, the studied area have two classes. The first class is the "moderately suitable for agriculture" S2 that occupies 67% of the area and affected with texture as a main limiting factor. The second class is the "marginally suitable" S3 that found in 1% from the area and suffering from texture, salinity and sodicity as main limiting factors
Studied Chemical Degradation Indices (CDI) vary from very low to high. The largest class includes the moderate degraded soils that covers about 42% of the studied area. The soils having low CDI covers about 14%. About 11 % of the total studied area have a high CDI. The remaining are fishpond (29.98 %) and urban areas (2.07 %).
Studied Biological Degradation Indices (BDI) indicated that the largest area (40%) could be affiliated to the moderate Biological Degradation class that having low organic matter content because of the prevailing semiarid conditions.