Evaluation of land suitability for main irrigated crops in the North-Western Region of Libya

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 73 - 86, 01.01.2018

Salah Hassanien Abd El-aziz

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.337218

Cited By: 7

Abstract

Land suitability analysis can help to achieve
sustainable crop production with a proper use of the natural resources. The
current study was carried out on the soils of north-western area of Libya to
assess their morphological, physical and chemical properties and their
suitability for growing irrigated crops. The studied area lies between
latitudes 32° 30′ 00.9" and 32° 57′ 34.2'' N and between longitudes 11°
35′ 08.4" and 11° 45′ 09.2" E. Two suitability methods (Sys
&Verhey and Storie methods) were used to assess the land suitability of
this area. According to Sys and Verhye method, the soils of the studied area
varied in the suitability for irrigation between highly suitable (S1) to
marginally suitable (S3). However, according to modified Storie index method
the soils productivity, ranged from excellent (grade 1) for agriculture to
non-agricultural (grade 6). The modified Storie index method was more effective
in assessing the land suitability of this area. The drip irrigation system was
also more suitable than surface irrigation method for most of the soils of the
studied area. The indeces of soil suitability rating and percentage for growing
alfalfa, sorghum, barley, maize, millets, wheat and safflower were higher
compared to those for growing soybean, sunflower and sesame. Onion and
green pepper crops were moderately suitable to be grown in 42% of the soils of
the studied area while the other vegetables were not suitable to be
grown in most of the soils of the studied area. The evaluated fruit
trees could be arranged according to the soil suitability rating and percentage
in the order of date palm > olives > guava > citrus > banana. The
results also revealed that the studied area has a good potential to produce the
selected crops under irrigation provided that the water requirements for these
crops are met. The main limiting factors for land suitability for growing crops
are soil texture, soil depth, calcium carbonate, alkaline pH and soil salinity.

Keywords

Land evaluation, irrigation methods, suitability for crops

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