RESTRICTIONS OF BORDERING IDKO LAKE LOW SOIL PRODUCTIVITY, NORTH NILE DELTA

Most of agricultural lands in the Northern parts of Egypt are relatively low productive soil; particularly the soils adjacent to the Northern Lakes. This study aims to define soil limitations for sustainable productivity in some of these soils as well as to assess the suitability of natural resources in EL- Behaira Governorate for agricultural purposes.Ten representative soil profiles were selected, morphologically described and analyzed. Also, their soil texture and soil salinity alkalinity were assessed for the suitability of the studied area. Results indicated that the studied soil profiles were classified as Sodic Haplotorrerts, Typic Torripsamments, Sodic Endoaquerts, and Typic Fluvoaquerts.The studied soils are categorized into three suitability classes (i.e., moderate S2, marginally S3 and not suitable N1) and five subclasses i.e S3 (Wbn), N1 (Wbn), S3 (Wabn), S3 (Wn) and S2 (Wbn). Results indicated that the main soil limitations are wetness (W), Soil depth (b), texture (a) and Salinity alkalinity (n) with different intensity degrees. Land improvement should be executed to achieve the potential suitability, i.e. highly, moderately and marginally suitable classes.