The current research aims to investigate soil characteristics, estimate the soil
erodibility factor (K) and define the important soil properties affecting erodibility, wind erosivity
factor (C), rainfall erosivity factor (R) and to find out the land capability and soil suitability
classification in Abis region at south Mariut Lake. Representative forty one soil profiles were
chosen to represent lacustrine soils at Abis region. The results indicated that the soils were
developed in the lacustrine deposits of Lake Mariut and characterized by sandy loam to sandy
clay loam texture in most profiles. The EC values ranged between 0.77 and 10.91 dS/m, ESP
values being in the range of 1.73 to 18.26, total carbonate content ranged between 2.0 and
34.0%, pH values ranged between 7.51 and 8.83 at the surface layers. In the subsurface layers
the corresponding values 0.83 and 13.86 dS/m for EC, 1.02 to 36.32 for ESP, 1.0 and 46.0% for
total carbonate, 7.66 and 8.46 for pH. The result also, shows that the water table depth ranged
from 25 to 120cm. The ECw and SAR of water table vary from 1.19 to 35.80 dS/m and from 3.16
to 47.18, respectively.
The values of soil erodibility factors "K" ranged between 0.088 - 0.112 for the studied
area. Most of the studied profiles belong to class 2 which represent soils that are moderate
erodible, while some of the studied profiles belong to class 1 which represent soils that non
erodible. The K- values are positively correlated with %silt (r =0.68), %very fine sand (r=0.48)
and %sand (r=0.33). In contrast they are negatively correlated with %CaCO3 (r = 0.21),
%organic matter (r=0.31) and %clay (r=0.51). The total value of Rainfall erosivity factor (R) is
low (41.0) due to the relative dry climate, while wind erosivity factor (C) ranged between 3.33
and 18.28. The annual value of C was 134.5 and this relatively high value may be attributed to
increasing of wind velocity in this area. With regard to Land capability, most of the study area
was classified as class 2 (C2), while limited areas belong to class 3 (C3) which reflects fair or
moderate capability with available water, hydraulic conductivity, soil depth and soil salinity as
limiting factor. With respect to soil suitability, most soils were suitable (class 2) for the tested
crops, while some soils were highly suitable (class 1) and limited soils belong to class 3 or class
4 which reflect moderate or marginal degree of soil suitability for some of the traditional tested
crops. Regarding the sub classes, main limiting soil properties in most of the studied soils are
available water, hydraulic conductivity, soil depth, salinity and exchangeable sodium percent.