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Relationship of environmental geochemistry to soil degradation in Helwan catchment, Egypt

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Environmental geochemistry plays an important role in understanding the distribution of major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) in Helwan catchment, south Cairo, Egypt. Evaluation of soil mechanical erosion rate, depletion rate, exchangeable rates of base cations and sodium adsorption ratios are essential for understanding soil degradation problems in the representative Helwan catchment. Soil erosion is a natural process. It often becomes a problem when human activity causes it to occur much faster than under natural conditions. The results of the mechanical erosion rate of soil and the exchangeable rates of base cations are 1845 and 80.3 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The high intensity of the mechanical erosion rate is probably attributed to the high specific surface area of the studied type of Vertisol, intensive application of fertilizer and industrial activities. Mechanical erosion of soil, exchangeable rate of base cations and the depletion rate of base cations are almost inexhaustible sources of sodium, and all these increase the problem of sodic soils and may affect plant productivity in Helwan catchment.

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  1. Ahmed A. Melegy

    Present address: Geological and Geophysical Sciences Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

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    1. Ahmed A. Melegy
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    Correspondence to Ahmed A. Melegy.

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    Melegy, A.A. Relationship of environmental geochemistry to soil degradation in Helwan catchment, Egypt. Environ Geol 48, 524–530 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1303-5

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1303-5

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