The study aims at using satellite images and Geographical
Information System (GIS) for physiographic digital soil mapping and
capability assessment of the area western side of Idfu district, Aswan
Governorate, Western Desert .The area lies between longitude 32°
29¯45= and 32°47¯1332= E and latitudes 24° 22- 38= and 25°8¯36=N and
occupies total area about 139000 feddans. To fulfill this objective
Landsat ETM+ image and digital elevation model (DEM) of the studied
area were used to define the physiographic units of the studied area. The
physiographic units of the area under consideration could be grouped and
described as young terraces, old terraces, Wadi, Outwash plain .The
different landforms were represented by 9 soil profiles, the morphological
description was carried out and 26 disturbed soil samples were collected
for physical and chemical analysis . The obtained results revealed that the
soils of the studied area are classified as follow:
A)-Soils of Old Terraces: Typic Torriorthents, sandy, mixed,
hyperthermic.(Profile8).Gypsic Haplosalids coarse loamy, mixed hyperthermic.
(profile9) B)-Soils of the Young terraces: a) Typic Torripsamments siliceaus,
hyperthermic (profil,1)-b) Gypsic Haplosalides coarse loamy, mixed,
hyperthermic(profile,2)–c). Typic Haplosalides, coarse loamy ,mixed
,hyperthermic. profiles 2 and3. C)-Soils of Wadis: Typic Torriorthents, sandy,
mixed, hyperthermic (profiles 4 and 5 ) D)-Soils of Outwash Plains:.
TypicTorriorthents, sandy ,mixed ,hyperthermic (profile,6) Typic Calcigypsids,
coarse loamy,mixed,hyperthermic (profile,7).
Land capability classes was performed using Sys & Verheye (1978)
System, The studied soils could be categorized into two suitability classes
(S3) marginally suitable and (N) not suitable which are suffering from soil
texture, soil profile depth, salinity and alkalinity and CaCOз content as
soil limitations. To correct the severity of these limitations further land
improvement should be executed and in turn potential suitability surveyed
as moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3) and not suitable (N)
were recognized in the studied area. The severity can be corrected by
application of organic and inorganic soil amendments and salt leaching