Soil Water Erosion Vulnerability and Suitability under Different Irrigation Systems Using Parametric Approach and GIS, Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

Preserving the sustainable agriculture concept requires identifying the plant response to the water regime and rationing the water for irrigation. This research compares different irrigation designs coupled with a parametric evaluation system on soil water erosion and soil suitability to assess the sites vulnerable to soil erosion based on a soil water erosion model (ImpelERO) in an area of 150.0 hectares, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. Land suitability maps are prepared using the Geographic Information System (GIS), and the soil properties are analyzed and evaluated for the different surface, sprinkler, and drip irrigation methods. The results show that the sprinkler and drip irrigation strategies are more practical irrigation methods and additional environment friendly than surface irrigation for enhancing land productivity. Moreover, the principle acumen for creating use of the surface irrigation on this space is for lowering the soil salinity. Land capability index for surface irrigation ranges from 20.5 to 72.2% (permanently not suitable N2 to moderately suitable S2); and the max capability index (Ci) for drip irrigation was 81.3% (highly suitable-S1), while the mean capability index (Ci) was 42.87% (Currently not suitable-NI). The land suitability of the study area using sprinkler irrigation was ranked as highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and currently not suitable (N1). Thus, the obtained data indicated that applying drip irrigation (trickle irrigation) was the most efficient system compared to the sprinkle and surface irrigation systems. To identify the soil, water erosion vulnerability, and soil optimal management strategies for the agricultural parcel in that region, the ImpelERO model (soil erosion vulnerability/impact/management) was applied. Erosion risk classes ranged from V2 (small) to V3 (moderate), that that region categorized as small-sensitive to water erosion by alfalfa, to moderate-sensitive to water erosion by olive. The results of soil losses varied from 7.1 to 37.9 t ha−1 yr−1 with an average of 17.7 t ha−1 yr−1. Thus, guarantee efficient water use and soil suitability for food production in the future will require the use of an efficient irrigation system.