الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION
Geology and geomorphology of the Western DesertOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Assiut University Farm, lies in El-Kharga Oasis, at New Valley Governorate comprises a series of depressions in the Western Desert of Egypt; the area understudy is located between latitudes 24° 30’ and 26° 00’ N and longitudes 30° 27’ and 30° 47’ E. The total area understudy covers about 262 faddans.
The experimental farm is divided into two locations. The new cultivated location (first location) is covers about 136 faddans under cultivated, and the old cultivated location (second location) is covers 126 faddans which is cultivated with some filed crops.
The current study aims to give some information about some physical and chemical properties of soils, morphology. Based on these data, soil individuals were land capability for irrigation and land suitability for main crops were also accomplished.
Sixty seven profiles, representing both locations of study were dug to the suitable depth, according to the type and nature of soil material, were allocated after morphological description of each profile, soil samples were taken from each layer of soil profiles (167 samples) for necessary analysis.
Data obtained could be summarized in the following:
A-physical and chemical properties:
Both locations understudy was found to differ in various physical and chemical properties; these can be summarized in the following:
1-Soils of the new cultivated location (first location) are mostly coarse in texture (mainly loam sand, followed by sandy loam, and then sand). Only profile was loam, and the old cultivated location (second location) were mostly fine to medium coarse in texture (mainly loamy sand, followed by sandy loam). Only profiles were clay, clay loam, loam, sandy clay loam. On the other hand, these coarse textures reflect the effect of the sandy wind plowing from the north passing by the sand dunes line of Abo-Mohreek in the western desert. While, the fine texture of the surface layer of locations can be due to the naturally alluvium deposits to soil surface especially in the old cultivated location (second location) exercise.
2-The saturation percentage (SP) for the new cultivated location (first location) was varied between 21.10 and 48.88 %. While, the old cultivated location (second location) was varied between 25.50 and 59.53 %. In most cases, soil saturation percentage values coincide well with the clay and silt content.
3-Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) for the new cultivated location (first location) range between 2.76 and 41.06 cm/h. While, the old cultivated location (second location) varied between 1.51 and 52.58 cm/h. Generally, this variation of the hydraulic conductivity may due to the alluvium deposits, which were inhomogeneous in some profiles, and due to the variation in the texture of the different soil layers.
4-Soil particle density, bulk density, and porosity for the new cultivated location (first location) particle density ranges between 2.38 and 2.71 g/cm3, and soil bulk density ranges between 1.23 and 1.58 g/cm3, and porosity ranges between 34.95 to 48.73 %. While, the old cultivated location (second location) soil particle density ranges between 2.31 and 2.68 g/cm3, and soil bulk density ranges between 1.16 and 1.62 g/cm3.While, porosity ranges between 36.81 to 53.96 %. In most cases, soil particle and bulk density values in both locations are equal to each other and limits national soil values, the porosity values increased with increasing the fine materials in the soil, and less than without them.
5-Soil pH varied between7.72 to 9.27 most soil samples are to moderately alkaline for the new cultivated location (first location), and ranges between7.99 to 9.27, most soil samples are to strongly alkaline for the old cultivated location (second location). No clear pattern of pH changes occurs either within each profile or among soil profile of each location. Such behavior results from the heterogeneity of soil materials at different locations and within each site moreover, the young nature of the studied soils and their weak development are possible reasons behind the inconsistent pH changes.
6-Salinity values (ECe) of the new cultivated location (first location) range between 7.94 and 158.00 dS/m. whereas, the old cultivated location (second location) it only range between 1.01 and 36.86 dS/m. Generally, high content of soluble salts, especially in the surface layers of most sites of the new uncultivated location (first location), could be attributed to the absence of any leaching due to the scanty rainfall received and the barren nature of the soils.