Land Evaluation of Different Land Cover Classes for Agricultural Use in South East of Egypt using Remote Sensing Data

Abdel Khalek, Ayman A.; Afify, Afify A.; Salem, Heitham M. S.; Elsharkawy, Mohamed M.; Zahra, Wesam R.

doi:10.21608/sjas.2023.218124.1314

Land Evaluation of Different Land Cover Classes for Agricultural Use in South East of Egypt using Remote Sensing Data

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Egyptian Survey Authority, Giza, Egypt

² Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute; Agricultural Research Center; Giza; Egypt.

³ Faculty of Agriculture Banha University, Egypt

⁴ Soils and water Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.

10.21608/sjas.2023.218124.1314

Abstract

This study carried out in an area south Egypt covering 386,171.04 hectares (ha). Remote sensed data were manipulated for defining the land cover features. Setting up Digital Elevation Model (DEM) configures the network of natural drainage flows via the descending slopes.It was a guide for allocating micro dams as water harvesting sites as well as minimizing the runoff hazards and managing the priority of land use suitability versus flood hazards. Land cover units were defined
as terrestrial irrigated areas of sequentially herbaceous crops and permanent trees covering 1387.83 ha in levees; 1608.82 ha in point bar; 718.89 ha in bow bar and 23938.29 ha in alluvial plain. Terrestrial natural vegetation is dominated by xerophytes herbaceous in wadis (123533.56 ha). Terrestrial non- vegetated areas includes bare areas of rock land (98102.59 ha) and 67201.57 in bajada. Artificial non-linear surfaces include buildings (5403.59 ha) and linear features
include roads and railways (875.78 ha). Aquatic areas include artificial irrigation and drainage canals (1062.15 ha) and natural water body of River Nile course (2785.92 ha). Current land suitability for specific Land Utilization Types (LUTs) was assessed by matching soil attributes with the growth requirement of each LUT. Current land suitability can be improved by decreasing of salinity and sodicity practices. Accordingly, the land units can be potentially more profitable for
increasing the ability of extra crops to be more productive. Old cultivated areas are the most profitable land cover/use units highly suitable (S1) for all LUTs comparing with other land cover categories.

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