Abstract:
This study was conducted in the pilot farm of Um Bayada Agricultural Project which
is located in northern Darfur state between latitude 15 degrees north and between longitudes
27 1/2 and 26 1/2 degrees west. The main road which connects Al-Fasher to Hamrat Al-
Sheikh in North Kordofan runs across Um Bayada area. Al-Meidoub dome and
associated subsequent uplifts have influenced local and regional sequence of land
formation and degradation. The dominate land topography in the study area is almost
depressional cracking clay plain of the Um Bayada alluvium deposits. The climate of the
study area is Semi-Desert type. Three main types of vegetations in the study area are
Qoz vegetation, Basement vegetation and alluvium vegetation. The Water resources
were Surface water and Underground water and so three major land use types are
Traditional farming (rainfed), Traditional animal breeding and Wood cutting.
This study aimed to characterize the soil of pilot farm, illustrating their variability,
assess the land suitability for some selected main crops with defining the main soil
constraints in relation to crop production and suggest sustainable soil management
practices. The Grid soil survey method was followed in this study which involved
field descriptions and taking of representative soil samples at intervals of 100 m apart
dug with deep depth (200m). The collected soil samples were analyzed at the Soil and
Water Sciences Dept. laboratory at Shambat. Laboratory chemical and physical
characteristics include mechanical analyses, electrical conductivity (EC), Soil pH,
soluble anions and cations and fertility status (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium)
based on soil sample extracts.
Three different soil geomorphic units have been identified which are Depression
cracking clay plain (DC), Cracking clay plain with gently undulating slope (CC), and
Clay with very thin sand sheet (CS). The pilot is mainly composed of one map unit
(75%) with consociations of minor inclusions of similar soil with different top soil
phases. The soils were classified according to USDA soil taxonomy as Vertic
Haplocambids. The results of field descriptions and laboratory analyses revealed that
the soil of the pilot farm, has low to moderate permeability depending of dominant
clay texture, none saline (0.3-2.5ds/m), slightly alkaline (7.6-8.0), with fertility
limitations (S2f). According to soil suitability system the study find maximum of soil
in class one (S1) with some limitations in class two (S2). The study recommended the
soils of the pilot farm require a good soil conservation practices such as adding
organic matter and plant cover to avoid the damaging effects of soil erosion. Good
farming practices such as bush fallow and modern irrigation methods should be
practiced for soil nutrient replenishment.
