Investigation of Physical and Chemical Soil Properties for Two Selected Sites in Khartoum State (Umm Dom Island) and River Nile State (Al Oteib Area) Sudan

Abstract

Soil is an important component of the human environment and is a significant component of terrestrial ecosystems. The aim of this study is to determine physical and chemical soil properties in addition to comparing two sites (Al oteib area) River Nile state and (Umm Dom Island) Khartoum State in soil composition. Two different soil samples were collected randomly from the surface (0-30m) of the two locations (Al oteib area) and (Umm Dom Island) manual, a considerable amount of soil was taken to analyze physical and chemical soil properties. Standard analytical methods were used. Results revealed that the soil texture was sand to sandy loam in the two sites. Chemical analysis of the soil showed that Al oteib area and Umm Dom Island were of neutral reaction pH (7.24, 7.27), Electrical Conductivity, and the amount of salt was non Saline (0.766 ds/m) in Al oteib and saline (3.42ds/m) in Umm Dom Island. Exchangeable calcium concentration ranged from low (3.5megl/L) in Al oteib to high (17.5meg/L) in Umm Dom Island, Exchangeable magnesium concentrations ranged from medium (1.5 meg/L) to high (13.5meg/L) soluble sodium concentration was very low (2.24meg/L and (20meg/L) respectively. Soluble Potassium concentration ranged from high to excessive (1.86meg/L and 7.83meg/L). Both soils were bicarbonate (4 meg/L and 6.5 meg/L), the available organic matter was low to the desirable amount (0.21% and 0.75%), the Percentage of Calcium Carbonate was high (22.05 and 22.3meg/L). Total nitrogen percentages were very low (0.0.014% and 0.028%). The available phosphorus was very low (0.4 ppm and 1.6ppm). The Comparison showed that the amount of Exchangeable Ca and Mg, Soluble Na and K, total N, available P, O.M and O.C,  and amount of HCO3, CO3, CL were greater in Umm Dom area while the percentage of sand (98.2%) and  CaCO3 (22.05meg/L) were higher in Aloteib area.  From the field observations and laboratory analysis we concluded that Umm Dom Island soil was more fertile than Al Oteib soil and more suitable for agricultural practice without the need for the addition of external fertilizers.