Evaluation of Soil Characteristics for Agricultural Machinery Management and Cropping Requirements in AL Aflaj Oasis, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi Arabia’s topographic features have great significance and impact on the diversity of physical environments for plant growth and agricultural activities. Cultivated land is at a premium in Saudi Arabia, and soil evaluation is increasingly important. Thus, the intended purpose of this investigation was to determine both the genesis and soil properties to improve the management of arid soil, which is represented by Al-Aflaj Oasis, during tillage operations. The parameters of this research output were the soil’s chemical and physical properties. Data were collected from field experiments by drilling and evaluating soil profiles using soil sampling tools. This study classified the soil of Al Aflaj Oasis, which is a part of the Najd Plateau. It analyzed the soil profile, the failure to provide nutrients for agricultural production, and the impact of spring floods, modern equipment, fertilizer management, and irrigation methods on agricultural prospects. Topographic and geological maps provided the origin of the soils in the area. The morphological description included measurements and characterization of soil horizons and boundaries, moisture status, soil texture, construction, cohesion, estimation of calcium carbonate, and other morphological phenomena. Laboratory analysis measured the soil particle size, soluble salts, calcium carbonate, organic material, electrical conductivity, and percentages of silt, clay, and sand. The soil was deep, with a coarse texture characterized as sandy to sandy clay; the gravel content ranged from 19.70 to 62.50%, with a cohesive structure at the bottom of the soil profile and slight cohesion at the surface. The soil had low organic matter content, and a hard layer of calcium existed at a depth of 100 cm. The soil was classified as arable land within a subgroup of Typic Haplocalcids. Chemical analysis showed low salinity, slight alkalinity, and high calcium carbonate (22–64%). The soil underwent a historical transformation. To enhance agricultural potential, the chemical and physical properties need adjustment by introducing organic matter, intensive deep cultivation, diversification of agricultural fertilizers, and careful irrigation management. Since recent cultivation has been limited to a depth of 100 cm, the hard calcium carbonate layer should be considered carefully. Future crop cultivation should include deep plowing (e.g., chisel and furrow plows) to fragment the solid soil structure and facilitate suitable farming practices, and the growth of plants in the lands affected by the ancient overflows of the Al Aflaj springs, such as the Al Aflaj Oasis, can be made productive and consistent with other agricultural areas.