Some Physical and Chemical Properties of the Soil of Sindbad and Umm al-Rasas Islands
Keywords:
soil, physical properties, organic matter, porosity, bulk density, particle density, chemical properties, salinity, Sindbad Island, Umm al-Rasas IslandAbstract
This study was conducted to understand the variations in the physical and chemical properties of the soil on Sindbad and Umm al-Rasas Islands. Forty soil samples were collected and analyzed from the study area, with twenty samples each from Sindbad Island and Umm al-Rasas Island during both the summer and winter seasons. Maps were drawn to show the distribution of soil samples in the study area.
The study concluded that the soil texture of Sindbad Island varies from sandy clay at sites (1) and (5) to sandy clay loam at sites (2), (3), and (4). The variation in soil texture is attributed to the differences in density and weight of the soil deposits, leading to differences in the quantity of deposits. Additionally, urban sprawl, which relies heavily on sand fractions for construction, has influenced the variation in the size of these fractions at these sites. In contrast, the soil of Umm al-Rasas Island is classified as clayey at sites (1), (3), and (5), while site (4) is classified as sandy clay loam.
The bulk density values were slightly varied, with the average for Sindbad Island soil being 1.45 Mg/m³, while the average for Umm al-Rasas Island soil was 1.35 Mg/m³. The average particle density for Sindbad Island soil was 2.03 Mg/m³, whereas for Umm al-Rasas Island soil, it was 2.53 Mg/m³. Porosity values also varied between the two islands, with the average for Sindbad Island soil being 26.6%, while for Umm al-Rasas Island soil, it was relatively higher at 47.2%. This difference is due to the type of texture and the amount of organic matter that increases porosity.
The average organic matter content in Sindbad Island soil was 2.13 g/kg, whereas for Umm al-Rasas Island soil, it was 2.14 g/kg, which are low values according to the Iraqi standard for organic matter content. The soil of Sindbad Island ranged from neutral to moderately alkaline in terms of pH values, while the soil of Umm al-Rasas Island was from moderately alkaline to highly alkaline. Regarding soil salinity, Sindbad Island soil was classified between highly saline and very highly saline, while Umm al-Rasas Island soil ranged from slightly saline to very highly saline.
