Soil compaction and sealing in Al-Salmi area, western Kuwait

✍ Scribed by A. M. Al-Dousari; R. Misak; S. Shahid

• Book ID: 102676810
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 678 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1085-3278
• DOI: 10.1002/1099-145x(200009/10)11:5<401::aid-ldr396>3.0.co;2-4

✦ Synopsis

In the deserts of Kuwait in general and in Al!Salmi area in particular\ soil compaction and sealing are the most signi_cant mechanisms of land degradation[ In the present study\ soil compaction and sealing in the Al!Salmi area are assessed[ The study is based on analysis of satellite images and aerial photographs\ besides _eld measurements and laboratory investigations[ Based on this study\ a recent map is prepared for the concerned area[ It shows three di}erent soil classes[ These are highly compacted "7=7 per cent#\ slightly compacted "0=6 per cent#\ and almost non!compacted or natural "78=4 per cent#[ Soil compaction in Al!Salmi area causes adverse changes in soil physical properties\ e[g[ in_ltration rate\ bulk density and soil strength[ The in_ltration capacity of the compacted soils has decreased by 07=35 to 80=85 per cent in comparison with non!compacted soils[ The bulk density for the compacted soil varies between 0=5 and 0=6 g cm -2 \ whereas it varies between 0=1 and 0=24 g cm -2 in the non!compacted soils\ that is an increased of 18=86 per cent[ In some sites\ the physical properties show small or no di}erence between compacted and natural soils due to the e}ect of soil sealing "crustation#[