2 mm and less than 75 mm) on their surface or within
their soil profile. They can also be stony soils (in which
the diameters of these solid components exceed 75 mm)
containing rocks on the surface or buried in different
depths of the soil profile. The presence of these solid
components in soils of whatever size leads to the
obstruction of various service operations of plowing,
hoeing, and others, as well as hindering seedling growth
and stopping or limiting the movement of plant roots.
These soils are present in many regions, especially in
mountainous areas, southern and desert regions; the total
estimated area covered with these soils is about 532500
hectares. These soils are classified under the level of a
great group in Libya according to the dominant Moisture
Regime (Table 4.5 and Fig. 4.6) (Ben Mahmoud 2013).
(This picture was taken from Al Assah area, southwest of
Tripoli, by Prof. Ben Mahmoud, it is a gravelly loamy sand
textured, moderately deep, brown, it has only ochric horizon,
land use: mainly rangelands and in limited areas cultivated
by rainfed barley).
• (Fluvents):
These are the soils of alluvial old dry valleys (Wadis) and
their outlets. During the formation process, the soil particles
are transported and deposited in water. Generally, they
consist of alluvial layers, and each of these layers represents
a stage of valley flood. Initially, the original materials are
formatted (deposited), followed by the formation of the
Ochric horizon on the surface, which can only occur after a
period of time succeeding its stabilization. The total estimated area of these soils is about 106500 hectares.
The characteristics of these soils differ according to the
Fig. 4.5 Torripsamments (This picture was taken from Aziziya area,
south of Tripoli by Prof. Ben Mahmoud, it is a sandy textured, very
deep, reddish brown, it has only ochric horizon, land use: field crops,
vegetables, and fruit trees)
Table 4.5 Classification of Orthents (Ben Mahmoud 2013)
Order
Suborder
Great groups
Entisols
Orthents
Xerorthents
Torriorthents
Fig. 4.6 Torriorthents (This picture was taken from Al Assah area,
south-west of Tripoli by Prof. Ben Mahmoud, it is a gravelly loamy
sand textured, moderately deep, brown, it has only ochric horizon, land
use: mainly range lands and in limited areas cultivated by rainfed
barley)
4 Soils Classification and Properties
55
their soil profile. They can also be stony soils (in which
the diameters of these solid components exceed 75 mm)
containing rocks on the surface or buried in different
depths of the soil profile. The presence of these solid
components in soils of whatever size leads to the
obstruction of various service operations of plowing,
hoeing, and others, as well as hindering seedling growth
and stopping or limiting the movement of plant roots.
These soils are present in many regions, especially in
mountainous areas, southern and desert regions; the total
estimated area covered with these soils is about 532500
hectares. These soils are classified under the level of a
great group in Libya according to the dominant Moisture
Regime (Table 4.5 and Fig. 4.6) (Ben Mahmoud 2013).
(This picture was taken from Al Assah area, southwest of
Tripoli, by Prof. Ben Mahmoud, it is a gravelly loamy sand
textured, moderately deep, brown, it has only ochric horizon,
land use: mainly rangelands and in limited areas cultivated
by rainfed barley).
• (Fluvents):
These are the soils of alluvial old dry valleys (Wadis) and
their outlets. During the formation process, the soil particles
are transported and deposited in water. Generally, they
consist of alluvial layers, and each of these layers represents
a stage of valley flood. Initially, the original materials are
formatted (deposited), followed by the formation of the
Ochric horizon on the surface, which can only occur after a
period of time succeeding its stabilization. The total estimated area of these soils is about 106500 hectares.
The characteristics of these soils differ according to the
Fig. 4.5 Torripsamments (This picture was taken from Aziziya area,
south of Tripoli by Prof. Ben Mahmoud, it is a sandy textured, very
deep, reddish brown, it has only ochric horizon, land use: field crops,
vegetables, and fruit trees)
Table 4.5 Classification of Orthents (Ben Mahmoud 2013)
Order
Suborder
Great groups
Entisols
Orthents
Xerorthents
Torriorthents
Fig. 4.6 Torriorthents (This picture was taken from Al Assah area,
south-west of Tripoli by Prof. Ben Mahmoud, it is a gravelly loamy
sand textured, moderately deep, brown, it has only ochric horizon, land
use: mainly range lands and in limited areas cultivated by rainfed
barley)
4 Soils Classification and Properties
55