CHARACTERISTICS AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL POTENTIAL FOR AGRICULTURE IN THE TASH DISTRICT WITHIN THE DRY AGRICULTURAL ZONE IN ANBAR PROVINCE OF IRAQ

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the main soil characteristics and the classification and assessment of the Tash district of Al Warar River in Al-Anbar province. The study area is located in the south-east part of Ramadi city in Al-Anbar province. This study can be considered as a scientific and logical basis for any successful agricultural development project to achieve this goal, the main physical and chemical properties, as well as the state of nutrients in different soil types, were identified in these areas through a descriptive and analytical study of five representative dyes and a number of specimens to determine the limits of soil units by using method of free scanning mode (Damien free-lance). The study area is located between longitudes (43° 14'55.48", 43° 15'33.20") at the east and latitude (33° 21'21.44", 33° 23'42.60") to the north. The study area was about 2256 square hectares and it considered a connection point between Al Ramadi city and the desert areas. The GIS mapping system was used as well as the use of Lands at satellite images and digital elevation maps to determine the physiology of the area. Soil analysis results showed that the soil of the study area was distributed between coarse tissue (sandy soil, mixing sand and sand mix), medium (sandy mud) and soft (clay and mud). These soils formed and developed on different originals of sediments and desert formations of nature Lime and silicates in different environmental conditions, as well as salinity distribution in the study area between non saline and moderately saline. The soil classification of the area of the study was carried out in the US Soil Survey Staff, 2014. The results indicated that the soil of the study area belongs to the arid soils and subgroup (Typic calcigypsids - Haplogicids). The present study aims to assess the state of the agricultural potential of the area and its agricultural abilities using the California Storie Index (1973). The results showed that most of the soils have limitations represented in soil salinity, rock spread on the surface and limestone as well as determinants of fertility and lack of nutrients and the severity of some parts of that region, and found that the soil area of the study belong to two levels of agricultural ability as follows: • The third category (III) is moderate (Fair) and occupies an area of 1157.3 ha and 48.7% of the area of study area in the piedons represented 4.2. • The fourth category IV Poor among the 1,300 square meters represented by the area of 1157.7 square meters, or 51.3% of the total area studied.