Effect of Cultivation on the Soil Properties of El-Kharga Farm, New Valley, Egypt

Assiut University Farm, in El-Kharga Oasis, New Valley Governorate, is located in the Western Desert of Egypt between latitudes 25°30- and 25°31- N and longitudes 30°35- and 30°36- E. This farm was initiated in 2004 to be as experimental farm for the proposed New Valley Branch. Another area is added to the farm in 2014. The location of the farm is in El-Kharga depression which is filled with marine sediments covered with sand sheets. Cultivation of this area for ten years showed great changes in the soil properties. This study aimed to evaluate the capability and suitability of the new area before cultivation and the old cultivated area and to investigate the effect of cultivation on physical and chemical properties of the studied soils.
The results showed that Land Capability for irrigation of the new area was; 30% Marginally suitable, 43% Currently not suitable, 26% Permanently not suitable, while for the old cultivated area was; 11% Moderately suitable, 27% Marginally suitable, 27% Currently not suitable, 33% Permanently not suitable. With good water quality, the moderately and marginally suitable soils could be improved for agriculture production. The high soil salinity and alkalinity as ESP or SAR also the sandy texture reduced the capability. Correcting those factors will improve the land capability