Pedogenesis, land management and soil classification in hyper‐arid environments: results and implications from a case study in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

A study of the soils in the Northern Emirates (NE), which covers 8.2% of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was undertaken applying the USDA Soil Taxonomy (ST) to classify soils up to the family level. The objective of the study was to identify the key factors and processes responsible for soil formation in hyper-arid environments in general and the study area in particular and to draw conclusions regarding soil classification and land management. Fifteen pedons representing the major soils in the region were investigated. Samples were collected, processed and analysed for physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics. Factors controlling soil development such as parent material, climate, plants and animals, relief, time, human activities and processes of salinization, calcification, gypsification, sodification and aeolian deposition were evaluated to guide soil classification and management. Data from soil families were used for describing and comparing soilforming factors and processes. It is concluded that these factors and processes play major roles in influencing soil use and management. There are also strong relationships between these factors and processes and the relevant soil taxa from Soil Taxonomy.

Relationships between landforms, soil characteristics and dominant xerophytes in the hyper-arid northern United Arab Emirates

“…1) and consists of five of the seven emirates that make up the UAE: Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain (Abdelfattah, 2013). Together they make up 8.2% of the UAE surface area of ca.…”

“…1) can be subdivided into four physiographic regions. The landscape ranges from small areas of level coastal plains and sabkha to undulating desert sand plains, extensive areas of linear and transverse dunes, an alluvial plain up to 15 km wide, and mountainous rocky outcrops along the Hajar Mountains which rise to 2980 m. In the western part, there are linear dunes up to 100 m high, interspersed with small areas of almost level deflation plains and flats (Abdelfattah, 2013).…”

“…The landforms in the Northern Emirates (NE) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are very diverse and were formed over long periods by geological and geomorphic processes Harvey, 2000, 2004;Goudie et al, 2001;Abdelfattah, 2013;Pain and Abdelfattah, 2014). These geomorphic processes produce a sharp juxtaposition of soils of different ages and degrees of profile development.…”

Gypsum Soils—Their Morphology, Classification, Function, and Landscapes

“…Early data on gypsum soils were collected in 1900 by Dokuchaev (Minashina and Shishov, 2002) for the deserts of Asia, and by other authors mentioned in Herrero and Poch (1998). Gypseous soils have been identified in many dry regions around the world, including Afghanistan (Pias, 1972), the Monte Desert of western Argentina (Abraham et al, 2009), Australia (Jessup, 1961), north-central Egypt along the Nile River (Aref, 2003), Iran (Moghiseh and Heidari, 2012;Toomanian et al, 2003), Iraq (Smith and Robertson, 1962;Altaie, 1981;Jaradat, 2002), Italy (Raimondi, 1993), northern Mexico (Grande-L opez, 1967Martínez-Montoya et al, 2010, 2012, northern Africa and the Namib Desert in Namibia (Le Houérou, 1960;Kulke, 1974;Watson, 1985), Spain (Albareda et al, 1961;Huguet, 1929;Kubiëna, 1952), Syria (Tavernier et al, 1981), United Arab Emirates (Abdelfattah, 2013), and the western states of the United States (Allen, 1985;Eswaran and Zi-Tong, 1991;Nettleton et al, 1982).…”

Improving chemical and hydro-physical properties of semi-arid soils using different magnitudes of crumb rubber

“…Soils in arid and semi-arid regions are often characterized by low clay and organic matter contents which results in low water holding capacity and inherently low fertility (Abdelfattah 2013). In order to improve soil structure and to increase under cultivation areas in arid and semi-arid regions, there are various management methods such as adding soil amendments, mulches and conservation tillage (Roper et al 2013;Zhao et al 2011;Bhatt et al 2016).…”