The population of Egypt is estimated at 70 million people, inhabiting less than five percent of the national territory. Approximately 17 percent of the Egyptian population lives in Upper Egypt. The rest is distributed between Lower and Middle Egypt. The Egyptian rural population represents about 51 percent of the total population.
The total area of agricultural land in Egypt amounts to around 3.5 million ha, accounting for almost 3.3 percent of the total area. At present only 5.4 percent of the land resources in Egypt is qualified as excellent, while about 40 percent is of either poor or of low quality, due mainly to salinity, water logging and sodicity problems.
The total area cropped annually increased from 4.7 million ha in 1982 to 6.5 million ha in 2003 due to increased cropping intensity, which reached about 180 percent. This was made possible by the introduction of earlier maturing varieties of various crops, which permit up to three harvests per year.
The study describes the background to fertilizer use on crops in Egypt, including the fertility status of Egyptian soils and the production, imports, exports and consumption of fertilizers. Egypt currently consumes 1.25 million tonnes of fertilizer nutrients with an N:P2O5:K2O ratio of 1:0.12:0.05.
Information is provided on the agro-ecological zones and farming systems, particularly as regards to agricultural suitability. The agricultural production systems are described, as are the fertilizer requirements and crop needs. Rates of fertilizer use recommended on the main crops in Egypt are given. The role of organic manure as a source of nutrients and as a soil amendment is covered.
In addition, the report summarizes results of the studies which had been carried out in Egypt to determine the most suitable time and proper method of fertilizer application on various crops. It describes the situation concerning fertilizer storage and distribution, pricing and trade.
The study ends with the following proposals for improving soil fertility management:
