A mineralogical and geological examination of the salinity of soils, Nile Valley, Upper Egypt

Abstract

Salinty of soils is the factor leading to the limitation of agriculture. Due to the reduction of suitable fields farming is also reduced. As a consequence farmers have to leave farms. This problem is specially important in Egypt where cultivated land is limited to the Nile Valley. A mineralogical and geological investigation of this phenomenon is conducted at Heracompolis and surrounding areas showed the presence of the following minerals as white salty coatings covering the surface of local soils: The absence of natural floods of Nile stopped due to the construction of the Aswan Dam is the reason for the continuous elevation of the degree of the salinity of soils. Evapotarion of water used for agriculture cannot be prevented but the process of mineralization has to be stopped if Egypt wants to avoid reduced food production.