PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #5: Soil Ecology.
Monday, August 6, 2001. Presentation from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Exhibition Hall

Ecological evaluation of soil quality in South Sinai, Egypt.

ABD EL-WAHAB, RAAFAT¹, KLOPATEK, JEFFREY¹, MOUSTAFA, ABD EL-RAOUF², ^{1 2}

ABSTRACT- South Sinai is characterized by an ecological uniqueness being a bridge between Asia and Africa and its diversity of landforms, geologic structures and climate. The landscape has been impacted by harvesting of vegetation for fuel and medicine, overgrazing, urbanization and quarrying. Environmental deterioration is evident in a decrease of plant cover, and deterioration of soil quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate how soil quality varied with landform and elevation gradients. Two hundred plots were selected in 16 localities in South Sinai representing a wide range of elevation from 200-2641 m and covering four main landforms: wadis, plains, gorges and slopes. Soil and plant samples were collected from all plots. Physical and chemical analyses and bioassays were conducted on soil and plant samples to evaluate the soil fertility status. We present results showing differences in soil texture, soil moisture and water holding capacity and nutrient analysis including all macro- and micro-nutrients of both soil and plant material. Water availability is shown to be the key variable in controlling the soil productivity decreases downward from St. Katherine mountains in the center of South Sinai to the east and west to the coastal plains of the gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez respectively. There is a strong relationship between soil quality and landscape position and human impact. Human activities resulting in loss of vegetation are appear to be the main influence on soil quality.

KEY WORDS: South Sinai, soil quality, landform, water availability