Smectite Characterization of The River Nile Floodplain Soils, Sohag Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Fourteen representative samples from the River Nile floodplain soils, Sohag Governorate, Egypt were collected. These soils' physical properties, detailed bulk mineralogy and clay mineral species of clay fraction were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and advanced softwares. These soils are almost identical in terms of bulk and clay mineralogy throughout the governorate's districts. Their bulk mineralogy consists primarily of phyllosilicates (25-56%,) and feldspars (21-43%,) with less amounts of quartz (10–22%) and calcite (6–12%).The clay fraction mineralogy comprises smectite, kaolinite, illite (poorly and well crystalline), ordered smectite /illite mixed-layer mineral (R1), randomly ordered smectite /illite mixed layer minerals (R0) and kaoliite/smectite mixed layer minerals (K/S). Smectite (Ca-monmorillonite species) and smectite/illite mixed-layer minerals are the principal components of the clay fraction. According to these results, clay mineral species, amounts, and characterizations are accurately identified for application in soil management. This is important since soil fertility and clay mineralogy are closely related. Keywords: Clay minerals, soil, River Nile, Sohag Governorate, smectite, Ca-monmorillonite species.