Contribution to the physicochemical characterisation of soils in the Beni Boufrah watershed (Central Rif, Morocco)

Abstract

As part of the study of soil water erosion in the Beni Boufrah watershed, which forms part of the northern slopes of the Central Rif, generally dipping towards the Mediterranean Sea, we carried out soil analyses to determine certain physicochemical characteristics of the soil. These analyses, which consisted of measuring pH, estimating residual moisture content, organic matter and carbonates, and measuring magnetic susceptibility in the horizons of eight profiles sampled from different soils in the Beni Boufrah watershed, are of great interest in understanding the behaviour of these soils with regard to water erosion. The results obtained show that the soils in this catchment area are alkaline, and that their residual moisture and organic matter content are remarkably low, especially in the surface horizons. The carbonate content is only significant in soils resulting from the alteration of parent rocks belonging to the Bokkoya limestone ridge. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the soils studied are disturbed and reworked.