STATUS, PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE

SOIL MANAGEMENT IN SUDANSOIL MANAGEMENT IN SUDAN

AbdelMagidAbdelMagid Ali Ali ElMobarakElMobarakLand and Water Research Centre,Land and Water Research Centre,

ARC, Wad ARC, Wad MedaniMedani,,SudanSudan

Workshop on Global Soil Partnership in East and Southern AfricaWorkshop on Global Soil Partnership in East and Southern Africa2525--27 March 201327 March 2013

NairobiNairobi--KenyaKenya

The Soils of The Sudan• 1‐ Introduction

– Sudan is one of the largest African countries.

– It covers about 13 degrees latitudes crossing a range of climatic zones from dry monsoon to bare desert.

– The soils reflect the climatic diversity and the local conditionsconditions.

– The soils are very fine to course and shallow to very deep.

Climatic Zones of Sudan• D1.1 Desert,summer rain, warm winter• D1 2 Desert summer rain cool winter• D1.2 Desert,summer rain,cool winter• D2 Desert, winter rain• D3.Semi-desert• D3.2 Semi-desert, cool winter• D4 Semi-desert winter rainD4 Semi-desert, winter rain• A1.1 Arid, summer rain, warm winter• 1.2 Arid, cool winter• A2 Arid, winter rain• A3 Arid, no marked seasons,• S1.1 Semi-arid, summer rain, warm winter• S1.2 Semi-arid, summer rain, cool winter• M1.1 Dry monsoon, long dry season.• M1.2 Dry monsoon, cool winter.• M2 Dry monsoon, medium dry season• H1 Highland, short wet, warm summer• H2 Highland, medium wet.

– Kevie, W.V (1976)

2‐ 1 DESERT CLIMATE:North of Khartoum, with low rainfall and very scanty vegetation.

• 2‐1‐‐1 Desert Soils– In the north western desert, the soils are mainly Aridisols, flat, formed 

insitu, coarse textured, with weakly developed diagnostic horizons.In the eastern desert the soils are Aridisols with coarse texture, active wind erosion, isolated inselbergs, no detailed studies were made.

• 2‐1‐2 Riverain Soils– According to age and  topography, divided into:– Recent, middle and old (high ) terraces.

– Recent Terrace Soils• Recent alluvial deposits, dark gray, medium texture, platy structure, mildly alkaline, 

non‐saline, non‐sodic, belongs to Entisols order.

– Basins Soils• Low lying formed in old channels deep moderately permeable heavy texture• Low lying, formed in old channels, deep, moderately permeable, heavy texture, 

salinity and sodicity increases with depth, most of the middle terrace soils lie in the this group, they are mainly Aridisols and Vertisols.

– Old Terrace Soils• Old soils,deep, salts seen on surface, saline sodic, Aridisols.

– Other soils are Tokar delta soils with varying textures from fine, medium to coarse.

2‐2 ARID ZONE CLIMATE:‐• High temperature in summer.g p

• Rainfall ranging from 225‐400mm.

• Sparse acacia trees ad grasses.

• The soils of this zone are of diverse nature and parent materials:‐

Nubian sandstone– Nubian sandstone.

– Marine deposits of the White Nile.

– Gezira Clayey deposits.

– Basement complex.

• 2‐2‐1 N. Kordofan, N. Darfor and White Nile Goz:‐,– Formed from aeolian deposits of the Nubian sandstone, they are 

deep, fine to coarse textured soils, with yellowish red colour.

• 2 2 2 soils of the White Nile• 2‐2‐2 soils of the White Nile– They are the weathering product of :

• African Plateau.

• Occasionally flooded plains.

• The high flood plains.

• Active flood plain:– This group  occupy low lying sites, flooded annually, slowly permeable, free of 

soluble salts and sodium.

• Occasionally flooded high plains:– Flooded at high years of floods, cracking clay soils, moderately permeable, 

moderate to slightly sodic, contains gypsum in lower horizons.

• The high flood plains:– Areas between 382‐386m asl, cracking clays, poorly drained, alkaline,  south 

Gebelain.

– North of Kosti,  none to slightly cracking, cemented with aeolian sands, saline di ilsodic soils.

• 2‐2‐3 Gezira clay plain: Alluvial deposits  originating from the y p p g gEthiopian highlands, they are broad flat clay plains, high CEC, high clay %, high buffering capacity, low N, OM and Avail.P.

2 2 4 B t Cl Pl i• 2‐2‐4 Butana Clay Plain:– Formed insitu from the basement complex and filled in by colluviated 

materials from the surrounding hills.

• 2‐2‐5 Gash Delta– Recent alluvial deposits from the igneous rocks of the basement 

complex, divided physiographicaly and texture wise to:• Medium textured soils, permeable, free of soluble salts, belongs toMedium textured soils, permeable, free of soluble salts, belongs to Entisols.

• Fine textured soils, wide cracks, similar to the clays of the central clay plain, but less saline and contains less gypsum and CaCO3 , falling into the Vertisols order.

2‐3 SEMI‐ARID CLIMATE• Hot summer and warm winter

• Rainfall 400‐ 750 mm.

• Savannah trees and long grasses.

• 2‐3‐1 Dinder‐Kenana Plains:All i l d i f h Bl Nil f d f h h i f h– Alluvial deposits of the Blue Nile,  formed from the weathering of the basement complex.

– Heavy texture soils, with very high clay content, deep, widely cracking, l li d dicalcareous, non‐saline and non‐sodic.

• 2‐3‐2 Gedarif‐Gallabat:– Formed insitu, deep, cracking clays,  with inclusions of Azaza( red 

sealed surface soils) Alfisols.

• 2‐3‐3 Nuba Mountains:– Large granitic hills intersected by wide clay plains formed either insitu, 

by water or colluviated materials from the surrounding hills. The soils are deep cracking clays, free of salts, neutral to acidic.

– Gardud soils( Alfisols) are found in this region, they are red  colour soils and free of slats.

• 2‐3‐4 The Soils of South Darfor– Ragaba soils formed by meandering channelsmixture of clays and 

non‐cracking light texture soils.

– Naqa’a heavy or medium texture soils( physiography) sealedNaqa a heavy or medium texture soils( physiography) sealed surface, salt free.

– Baggara Repeating PatternTwo or more soil types(clays and naqa’a) in a continuous repeated pattern They are affected by water and windin a continuous repeated pattern. They are affected by water and wind erosion.

2‐5 HIGHLANDS CLIMATE• Jebel Merra and Red Sea  hills.

– Intersected by valleys and water courses with shallow soils ( lithic).

– Volcanic ash soils of Jebel Merra.

• Soil properties of Arid Zone :Weighted average for 0 – 100 cm depthWeighted average for 0 – 30 cm depthSoil name g g pg g pSoil name

Landform Clay%

CaCo3%

ESP%E.C dS/m K cmol/ kg

CEC cmol/ kg

N %

0.C%

pH paste

312.9076.92.50350.0150.0728.3DammerDesert and semi–desert plains 331.6202.10.70320.0978.3Atbara

282.5039.20.90330.0220.0908.0KeliRidges230.2020.30.77140.0160.0367.6Hasayiay110.2030.40.52060.2100.0797.6Abu GudinWadies

144.3302.90.57430.0240.4068.6Wadi Khowi

303.176400.73280.0200.1328.4HudibaRiverain541.4020.60.73480.0340.6208.0Merowe280.3010.51.10370.0460.4207.7Karima330.8-810.23540.2000.9707.4BururRed sea region

390.7055.10.43480.0210.2448.0ERS02

040.1011.30.30090.0420.2007.8TokerDeltas290.4010.70.40240.0450.4128.0Digain544.4202.60.75500.0400.3628.1RemitabArid clay plain624 8423 50 20500 0480 9708 2U T k l 624.8423.50.20500.0480.9708.2Um Takal680.3030.30.50750.0410.6407.5Gadambaliya0.50.6030.20.23020.0110.1707.3DittoSand sheets and

dunes 071.1001.10.45060.0090.1017.7Salama

• Soil Classification of Arid Zone

U S Soil Taxonomy 1999Soil nameLandform U.S. Soil Taxonomy 1999Soil nameLandform

FamilyGreat groupOrder

Fine loamy, mixed, superactive,hyperthemic.Typic HaplocambidsAridisolsDammerDesert and semi–desert plains Fine, semectitic, hyperthremic,Vertic HaplocambidsAtbaraplains

Fine loamy, mixed, superactive, hyperthermicTypic HaplargidsKelliRidges

Loamy skeletal, mixed,hyperthermicTypic HaplocambidsHasayia

Coarse loamy, mixed, active, hyperthermicTypic HaplocambidsAbu GudianWadies

Coarse loamy, mixed, superactive, hyperthermicSodic HaplocambidsWadi Khowi

Fine loamy, mixed, superactive, hyperthermicTypic HaplosalidsHudibaRiverain

Fine, semectitic, hyperthermicChromic HaplotorrertsVertisolsMerowe

Fine loamy mixed (calcareous) superactiveTypic TorrifluventsEntisoilsKarima Fine loamy, mixed,(calcareous), superactive, hyperthermic

Typic TorrifluventsEntisoilsKarima

Coarse loamy, mixed, active, isohyperthermicTypic HaplosalidsAridisolsBururRed sea region

Fine, mixed, superactive, hyperthermicTypic HaplocambidsERS02

i ifi Sandy, mixed, superactive, isohyperthermicTypic TorrifluventsEntisolsTokarDeltas

Fine loamy, mixed, superactive, isohyperthermicTypic TorrifluventsDigain

Fine,semectitic,isohyperthermicSodic Haplusterts VertisolsRemitabArid clay plain

Fine, semectitic, isohyperthermicVertic HaplcambidsAridisolsUm Takkal , , yp

Very fine, semectitic, isohyperthermicArdic Haplusterts VertisolsGadambaliya

Mixed, active, isohyperthermicTypic TorripsammentsEntisolsDittoSand sheets and dunes

Mixed, superactive, hyperthermic Typic TorripsammentsSalama

Topography, Salinity and surface gravelsS3tsgDammerDesert and semi–desert plains

Sodicity, erosion and fertilityS2aefAtbara

Soil depth, gravels content and salinityS3dgsKeliRidges

Soil depth, topography and gravels contentN1dtgHasayia

Low moisture availability ,erosion and fertilityS3mefAbu GudinWadies

Salinity, sodicity and erosionS3saeWadi Khowi

Sodicity, salinity and erosionN1aseHudibaRiverain

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vfMerowe

- - - -S1Karima

Salinity, wetness and sodicityN1swaBururRed sea region

Soil depth, low moisture availability and erosionS3dmeERS02

Low moisture availability, inundation and erosionS3mieTokerDeltas

Inundation, erosion and fertilityS2iefDigain

Vertisolic characteristics and fertlityS2vaRemitabArid clay plain

Vertisolic characteristics, sodicity and salinityS3vasUm Takal

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vfGadambaliya

• Soil  properties of Semi ‐Arid Zone 

Weighted average for 0 100 cmWeighted average for 0 30 cm depthSoil nameLandform Weighted average for 0 – 100 cm depth

Weighted average for 0 – 30 cm depthSoil nameLandform

Clay %

CaCo3%

ESP%E.CdS/m

K cmol/kg

CEC cmol/Kg

N %

0.C%

pH paste

820.630.30.66830.6908.30ShueiteGedaref-Gallabat ridges

791 230 20 60880 05008207 30Di dDi d K 791.230.20.60880.0500.8207.30DinderDinder-Kenana region(Resdiual plain ) 723.8210.60.96820.0600.7408.30Abel

650.40.00.10.13210.0500.9056.6Shamfur

751.710.30.56790.0490.9207.6RenkWhite Nile region

---------W. GhallaKorfofan basin

---------K.Abu HabilHabil

18000.00.170.150.40.0230.3895.6Goz 62

----------Jabel Marra

• Soil Classification of Semi ‐Arid Zone

FAO/UNESCOsoil classification

1997

U.S. Soil Taxonomy 1999/1975Soil nameLandform

F ilG tO d FamilyGreat groupOrders

Eutric VertisolsVery fine, semectitic,isohyperthermic

Typic HaplustertsVertisolsShueiteGedaref-Gallabat ridges

Eutric VertisolsVery fine, titi i h th i

Typic HaplustertsDinderDinder-Kenana i semectitic,isohyperthermicregion

--- ---- ---- ----Residual plain Calcic VertisolsVery fine,

semectitic,isohyperthermicSodic HaplustertsAbel

Haplic LuvisolsFine loamy, mixed, isohyperthermic

Plinthic PaleustalfsAlfisols*Shamfurisohyperthermic

Eutric VertisolsVery fine, semectitic,isohyperthermic

Chromic HaplustertsVertisolsRenkWhite Nile region

----W. GhallaKorfofan basin

K b ----K.abu Habl

Cambic Arenosols

Mixed, isohyperthermicTypic UstipsammentsEntisolsGoz 62

----Jabel MarraJabel Marra

--Ethiopian foothils

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vfShueiteGedaref-Gallabat ridges

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vfDinderDinder-Kenana regionregion

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vfAbel

Erosion, physical characteristics and fertilityS2vfShamfur

(Resdiual plain)

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vfRenkWhite Nile region

--W. GhallaKorfofan basin

--K.Abu Habil

Low moisture availability, erosion and fertilityS3mefGoz 62

---Jabel Marra

• Soil  properties of Dry Sub‐Humid ZoneWeighted average for 0 – 100 cm depthWeighted average for 0 – 30 cm depthSoil nameLandform

Clay%CaCo3%

ESP%E.CdS/m

K cmol/kg

CECcmol/k g

N %

0.C%

pH paste

562.050.420.97510.0470.8107.1Soil unit 6Undulating piedmont

761.52.20.350.10670.0350.9507.4RoseriesFlat clay plain 76.5.67y p

801.530.450.43850.1371.0808.1Agdi

230.410.250.40150.0300.7157.6Bados

591 1000 110 21230 0380 8207 5El KadiNubian mountains 591.1000.110.21230.0380.8207.5El KadiNubian mountains

420.0190.130.73480.0470.8704.8El Shair

661.440.250.80370.0480.6106.1Um AgagaRagaba pattern

441.221/60.951.10220.0420.6407.1Um Harira

2100010.090.20100.0400.4685.3FudaBagara pattern

3000190.370.31180.0490.5707.3Naga'a 28Darfur erosion plainplain

• Soil Classification of Dry Sub‐Humid Zone

FAO/UNESCOsoil classification

1997

U.S. Soil Taxonomy 1999/1975Soil nameLandform

FamilyGreat groupOrder FamilyGreat groupOrder

EutricVertisolsFine, semectitic,isohyperthermicChromic HaplustertsVertisolsSoil unit 6Undulating piedmontEutric VertisolsVery fine, semectitic,isohyperthermicChromicHaplustertsVertisolsRoseriesFlat clay plain

Eutric VertisolsVery fine, semectitic,isohyperthermicTypic HaplustertsAgdi

Chromic LuvisolsFine loamy,mixed, isohyperthermicTypic Haplustalfs Alfisols*BadosEutricVertisolsVery fine, semectitic,isohyperthermicTypic HaplustertsVertisolsEl KadiNubian mountainsChromic LuvisolsFine,mixed, isohyperthermicUdic PalustalfsAlfisols*El ShairEutricVertisolsVery fine, semectitic,isohyperthermicChromic HaplustertsVertisolsUm AgagaRagaba patternEutricVertisolsFine, mixed, isohyperthermicTypic NatrustalfsAlfisols*Um Harira

Ferralic CambsolsFine, mixed, isohyperthermicTypic UstropeptsIncepisols*

FudaBagara pattern

Haplic LuvisolsFine, mixed, isohyperthermicMollic NatrustalfsAlfisols*Naga'a 28Darfur erosion plain

Vertisolic characteristics, wetness and fertilityS3vwf Roseries

Flat clay plain

Vertisolic characteristics, wetness and fertilityS3vwf Agdi

Physical characteristics and fertilityS3pf Bados

Vertisolic characteristics and topographyS2vt Soil unit 6

Undulating piedmont

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vt El Kadi Nubian mountains

Erosion, physical characteristics and fertilityS3epf El Shair

Vertisolic characteristics and fertilityS2vf Um Agaga Ragaba patterng p

Erosion and fertilityS3ef Um Harira

Fertility and erosionS2fe Fuda Bagara pattern RagabaBagara pattern Ragaba

pattern Physical characteristics and sodicityN1pa Naga'a 28 Darfur erosion plain

Inundation and vertisolic characteristicsN1iv Dischol Darfur erosion plain) p )

• Management of the Dry lands fro various farming Systems:

RemedyLimitation RemedyLimitationLeveling / pivotingTopography (t)

Leaching (LR) , Tolerant cropsSalinity (s)

G d l hi (GR LR) T l tS di it ( ) Gypsum and leaching (GR, LR), Tolerant cropsSodicity (a)

Shelter belts, soil conditioners, etc Erosion (e)

Fertilization, organic manning, rotation Fertility (f)

Shallow- rooted cropDepth (d)

Removal (surface) ,+ migration (subsoil)Gravels (g)

Watering by proper migration method )Moisture (m)

Manu ring , Ridging ,etcVertisolic (v)

Drainage , suitable crop (eg. rice)Wetness (w)

Inundation (I )

Plowing, sub soiling , chiselling , manuringphysical (p)

Mean fertilizer nutrient consumption h din the irrigated sector

Fertilizer 000 Tonnes

N (urea) 54.3

P2O5  (TSP) 11.1

K O (Potassium Chloride) 3 8K2O  (Potassium Chloride) 3.8

Year  Urea USD/Tonne TSP

Fertilizer Imports Prices/

USD/Tonne

1995 73.63 54.02

1996 96.45 146.37

1997 157.29 170.69

1998 111.72 159.86

1999 116 72 179 361999 116.72 179.36

2000 150.99 173.40

2001 87.58 174.61

2002 139.47 162.09

2003 152.53 170.86

2004 215.54 229.27

2005 209.96 260.32

Source: MOA, Agric.Stat. Dept. 2005

Fertilizer Recommendations for some crops

Crop1N‐2N Dose Locality

Cotton 2N Gezira

crops

Wheat 2N+1P Gezira+North Sudan

S h 1N 2N G i R i f dSorghum 1N‐2N Gzeira‐Rainfed areas

Sugar cane 4N Kenanag

Rice 3N+1P White Nile Gezira

Kenaf 2N Abu Naama

Maize 2N Irrigated sector

Sunflower 1N‐2N Gezira

Source: Dawelbeit, Sh. et al.2005. Current Researech in Fertilizer use in Irrigated Agriculture  in Sudan

S d A i S d

L l f S il بالفدان* المساحة مساحة من السودان% مساحة من عدد

Surveyed Areas in Sudan:

Level of Soil Survey

المساحة بالفدان

Area/ Feddan

من مساحة% %الحصر

of Total Surveyed Areas

من مساحة السودان% %of Sudan Area

عددالتقاريرلكل

مستوى Number of

SurveySurvey Reports

Detailed Survey 1,401,671 1% 0.28 33

Semi-detailed 8,128,900 5% 2 100Semi detailed , , 5% 2

Reconnaissance 10,240,916 6% 2.7 42

Explaratory 155,356,152 88% 36.4 5Explaratory 88% 36.4

Total 175,127,639 100% 41.3 190

Needs and Priorities:• Soil Map of Sudan at 1:250 000 • Desertification and its• Soil Map of Sudan at 1:250,000• Benchmark Soils as a base for 

soil research• Climate change in relation to

Desertification and its impacts

• Capacity building for soil di it l i• Climate change in relation to 

soil properties and management

• Education  ‐value of land

digital mapping• Equipments • Investments? Regulations

• Bridge the gap in knowledge management‐ coordination

• Unified Planning and b d

Investments? Regulations should consider soil as valuable none renewable resource

investment body integrating needs and priorities in different parts of the country

• Highlight the importance of soil

resource• Encourage investments  by consulting the soil institutes on where to• Highlight the importance of soil 

as non‐renewable resources for life –present and future

• Harmonization of data  (Q&Q).

institutes on where to invest, what measures to be taken

( )

P i i iPriorities:

• Capacity building‐training‐provision of equipments

• Soil map of 1:250,000 at least

• Encourage—investment‐ set rules

• Education –endorse on  soil• Awareness on the importance 

of regulating the use of soil and water resources and the

• Consult the specialist on where to‐howand water resources and the 

critical role they played in human life

on where to how 

Thank You