LAND DEGRADATION EXTENSION AND ITS CAUSATIVE FACTORS IN WEST NUBARIA REGION, EGYPT

The study area was situated in West Nubaria Town covering
15913.63 ha. Remote sensing data acquired by satellite Sentinel-2 in
2024 were processed for delineating the physiographic features. These
features were developed within a big playa without drainage outlet
including:
a) Dissected sedimentary rock land at the higher elevations was
3405.38 ha.
b) Pediplain of shallow residuum covering 521.04 ha
c) Pediplain of well drained cultivated soils covering 1998.58.
d) Pediplain of moderately well drained cultivated soils was
2737.91ha.
e) Pediplain of very poorly drained waterlogged soils was 1755.51 ha.
f) Bajada of somewhat excessively well drained soils covering
1562.46 ha.
h) Aeolian plain of excessively drained soils covering 2329.63 ha. i)
Intersected Aaeolian sheets of waterlogged very poorly drained soils
covering 208.05 ha. j) Submerged land was 1237.06 ha. Other land features are buildings
either still in use to be 156.80 ha or abandoned waterlogged within the
lake on 1.21 ha. Degradation process occurred as a result of using
surface irrigation that is draining over impermeable sub strata to
intrude the depressed areas. Besides, drainage water moves vertically
and horizontally to the lower levels. Furthermore, seasonal drainage of
rainwater falls on the higher area as well as the sewage effect.
Standing water salinity in the lake ranged from 27.95 to 31.5 dSm-1
.
So, it is useful to correct the agricultural practice of irrigation system
and drainage network considering the topographic features. The
suitability status is reflecting land degradation levels within the
currently and formerly managed land for agriculture.