Degradation Hazard Assessment of Some Soils North Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and quantitatively evaluate land degradation processes in the northern Nile Delta region. Aerial photographs were used to follow the geo-indicators of different degradation processes. GIS is used to build up a database model including required parameters for obtaining inputs to the model implemented by FAO/UNEP for global assessment of land degradation. The obtained results reveal that the high risk of physical (i.e. soil compaction and water logging) and chemical vulnerability (i.e. salinization and alkalinization) cover an area of 18487 hectare and 11008 hectare, respectively. The human induced land degradation hazards due to soil compaction is slight to high, however moderate to high for water logging. The degree of salinization and alkalinization is slight to high. (Nature and Science 2010;6(6):156-161). (ISSN: 1545-0740).