Soil Suitability Assessment Using MicroLEIS Model: A Case Study in Wadi El Heriga, North Western Coast Zone, Egypt.

T he aim of this work was to investigate land capability and soil suitability of Wadi El Heriga, north western coast zone (NWCZ) of Egypt using the Microcomputer Land Elevation Information system (MicroLEIS).To achieve this objective,a digital elevation model (DEM) and Landsat 8 image were usedto extract the landform units of the investigated area. Eighteen soil profiles were dug to represent different landforms.Soil samples were collected and prepared for laboratory analysis. The correlation between landforms and soil data was carried out and then the soil map was compiled using Arc-GIS 10.3. Results showed that the investigated area include five landforms, i. e.,peneplain, foot slope, back slope, tablelandand undulating. The main sub great groups of the investigated soils are TypicHaplocalcids, TypicTorripasamments and TypicTorriorthents with the TypicTorripasammentswas the most common one. The investigated soils were categorized into three capability classes; (S2) good (50%), (S3) moderate (45.5%) and (N) marginal (4.5%).Rustles of soil suitability showed that about 20% of the studied area is suitable (S2) for fruit crops (olive, peach and citrus). About 25% of the area is suitable (S2) for watermelon, alfalfa, sugar beet, sunflower, cotton and soybean. Nearly, 49, 37 and 44% of the area is moderately suitable (S3) for wheat, maize and potato, respectively. The most limiting factors for crop cultivation are texture, soil depth, drainage and excess of CaCO3 content.