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76
ANNEXES
Analysis of the agricultural situation in Azraq Basin
German-Jordanian Programme “Management of Water Resources”
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.
1.3.2 - Deep fine mixed thermic Family of Xeric Haplocalcids*.
Soil occurs on gently sloping plains of basalt flows mainly in the
easterly parts of the drier xeric to transitional xeric aridic zone with
annual precipitation 150-200 mm the soil is formed on basaltic material
with upper layers of alluvial/ colluvial origin possibly with some Aeolian
admixture and lower layers form weathered in-situ basalt, average soil
depth is 97 cm. these types of soils found in Al muaqer. When dry the
surface is hard to very hard, and usually has moderate to strong capping
which leads to significant surface run-off which, in turn can lead to
sheet erosion, and can have a very high percentages of basalt stone and
boulder cover.
The top soils is strong brown (7.5YR5/6) weak, coarse sub angular
blocky or angular blocky Loam to Silty Clay Loam (27.3% Clay, 58.9%
Silt, 13.8% Sand). And strong reaction with dilute HCL Acid.
The sub soil is strong brown to brownish yellow red (7.5YR5/6-5YR4/8)
with much paler colours often dominating at depth due to the density
of the Calcic horizon which generally occurs between 45 and 100 cm.
moderate to strong sub angular blocky heavy Silty clay loam, (34.2%
Clay,56.4% Silt,9.4% Sand)the typical profile of these soils shows an
average of 35% CaCO3 content. Reaction with dilute hydrochloric Acid is
strong to violent.
Top soil is very slightly saline (Ece value of 2.6 mS/cm) and subsoil is
moderately saline (Ece value of 11 mS/cm) whilst pH of about 8.0 is
slightly to moderately alkaline, fertility potential is considered medium
with CEC OF 17-20 me/100g.
Overall the inherent fertility is considered low with Organic Matter
about 1%.