The effect of intensive cultivation on some of the natural and chemical properties of the soil within the Ubari agricultural settlement project

Abstract

: This study was conducted in order to identify the changes occurring in the soil of the Ubari agricultural settlement project located in the city of Ubari in southern Libya, as a result of agricultural use, and to identify the rate of pedogenic development of soil profiles, as well as to identify some changes that may occur in some properties of this soil as a result of the use of irrigation water during the period In order to be guided by the results obtained, and to achieve this goal, four profiles were chosen in the cultivated area and for the purpose of comparison, a profile was dug outside the area, i.e. soil that had not been exposed to cultivation during the previous years of the project life and was considered as a source material for these soils, then soil samples were taken from six depths  (0-120 cm)and water samples were taken from farmer wells, from which soil samples were taken. The study showed that the variables occurring in the chemical properties of the soil for the average degree of electrical conductivity in the soil extract 1:1. The majority of the surface layer of the soil in the region is considered non-saline, and its salinity does not exceed 4 ds/m. The degree of salinity increases with depth, and the surface horizons of cultivated soils are distinguished by a darker color due to the presence of organic matter compared to virgin soils - Uncultivated. The results showed a relative decrease in the soil content of calcium carbonate in the cultivated soils compared to the virgin soils, where the average values ​​of calcium carbonate were 13.0-14.54% for the cultivated soils, and the average values ​​of the virgin soils were 11.75-12.31% where it is considered as non-calcareous soils, and it was found that the project soil is poor in its content Of the nutrients necessary for plant growth, which calls for the addition of chemical fertilizers constantly to provide the needs of the cultivated crops of these elements.