Changes in Soil Fabric of Torripsamments under Irrigated Date Palms, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Micromorphological observations were made of the individual layers in one soil profile in the desert and in four similar profiles in as many irrigated date palm orchards ranging in age from 10 to 230 years. Soluble silica in soil samples and amorphous silica in clay fractions were also determined. Differences in the soil fabric among the profiles indicated changes over time such as modification of the types and distribution of voids, additions and transfers of CaCO3 and silica and some transfers of clays. The differences in the soils could be related to the length of time under irrigation and to the quality of irrigation waters.