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Analysis of the agricultural situation in Azraq Basin
ANNEXES
German-Jordanian Programme “Management of Water Resources”
73
2 - North Badia Region
2.1 - Deep fine mixed calcareous thermic Family of Xeric
Haplocambids*.
This type of soil occurs on gently sloping to undulating basalt flows
mainly in the eastern part of Mafraq (North Badia) the soil is formed on
alluvial/colluvial material overlying paralithic (weathered) Basalt. Soil
Moisture regime is transitional xeric-aridic with a precipitation between
150-200 mm, average soil depth is 80 cm. these soils found in Al-
Ashrafyeh and Naïfeh.
Soil when dry the surface is moderately hard to hard, can be slightly
capped leading to run-off and surface stone or gravels cover up to 50%
of the surface.
The top soils is brownish yellow to strong brown (10RY 4/4-7.5YR4/6)
moderate medium sub angular blocky, texture is Silty Loam (28.3% Clay,
56.6% Silt, 15.1% Sand), and strong reaction with dilute hydrochloric
Acid.
The sub soil is brown to brownish yellow (7.5YR4/4-10YR6/6) moderate
to strong medium sub angular blocky, Silty Clay Loam, (29.4% Clay,54.7%
Silt,15.9% Sand). Few CaCO3, occur in subsoil and increase with depth but
no Calcic horizon occurs within 100 cm, the soil overall slightly saline
with Ece value of 3-5 mS/cm, ESP of up to about 6% in the subsoil whilst
reaction is slightly to moderately alkaline at pH 7.9 with CEC of 24-25
me/100g, whilst inherent fertility is low with Organic Matter at (0.81-
1.43%), Total-N of 0.1% and available –P about 20ppm, Ca/Mg and Mg/K
ratios at 2.5 and 4 and do not indicate any major deficiencies. CaCO3
levels at (15-20%) are moderately high and create some hazard. Moisture
reserves would be adequate with available water holding capacity (AWC)
in the range 110-130 mm/m.
The deep soils are dominants, but moderately deep soils limited by fresh
or weathered basalt or sometimes basalt gravel are common.