Physico-Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Soil Structural Stability in the Oued Joumouaa Watershed (Western Prerif)

Abstract

Soil degradation leads to alteration of ecological and economic functions due to a decrease in productivity and quality of the soil. The aim of the present study was to assess soil degradation by identifying physic-chemical soil factors in order to identify soil properties that could be used as indicators for future soil quality conservation programs and their relationship with soil erosion risk in the Oued Joumouaa watershed. Soil samples from three locations with, on average, from 0 to 20 cm depth. distributed on three stations, in a random way. Using discriminant and factor analyses, principal soil factors were identified. The results of the physico-chemical analyses (texture, pH, organic matter, calcium carbonate, assimilable phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, structural stability), show that the soils have silty-clayey-sandy textures, moderately basic pH (7.8 to 8), carbonate rate which varies from (16.86 to 20.36). The organic matter varies from 1.73 to 3.94. The assimilable phosphorus varies from 13.46 to 14.85, The structural stability of these soils under water revealed that they are generally unstable, with average weight diameters ranging from 0.56 (station 1) to 1.1 (station 2) and 1 (station 3). Therefore, it is suggested that the present study can be applied to projects with special relevance to soil scientists, environmental scientists and planning agencies that can use the present study as baseline data to combat land degradation and conserve land resources in an efficient manner.