Soil fertility status and land evaluation for various physiographic units in some interference areas of Egypt.

EVALUATION of soil fertility is an important factor for proper decisions making and strategies to achieve more sustainable agricultural systems. The present investigation was carried out to assess the fertility status of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and boron in the soils under scrutiny and their interrelations with soil capability which depend on physicochemical characteristics. The geographical area subjected to this analysis is located between the western Nile River soils and the eastern section of the Fayoum governorate in Egypt. A total of thirty-four soil profiles were systematically collected to represent diverse physiographic units. The study area includes two primary units: the cultivated and the desert units. Noteworthy positive and negative correlations were discovered between soil fertility parameters and various physicochemical attributes. The current land capability is categorized as highly suitable (S1, 38.2%) > marginally suitable (S3, 29.4%) > non-suitable (N1, 17.6 %) > moderately suitable (S2, 15.1%). However, the potential land capability is arranged as highly suitable (S1, 44.1 %) > moderately suitable (S2, 38.2 %) > marginally suitable (S3, 14.7 %) > non-suitable (N1, 3.0 %). The cultivated units exhibit a high degree of suitability compared with the desert units. Moreover, the concentrations of nutrient elements are pivotal in ascertaining land productivity. Agricultural management methodologies, which encompass fertigation, the integration of organic matter, strategic cropping arrangements, and precision agriculture, are crucial in improving the nutritional status of soil elements and subsequently enhancing crop yields within the examined region.