**5. Field visits and sampling**

Four main localities characterized by large number of *F. benghalensis*, trees were selected in Ismailia city for the present study. These localities are: El-Mawany area comprises of 55 trees, Mohamed Ali area comprises of 5 trees, Amon area comprises of 16 trees, and Nemra Ceta comprise of 38 trees (**Figures 3** and **4**). In each locality, number of vegetation parameters was measured to describe the *Ficus* trees including; height, cover, circumference at base (CAB), circumference at breast height (CBH), number of aerial root and vitality. Tree vitality has also been measured using the visual assessment of crown conditions. Tree condition is often used in conjunction with other vitality assessments for verification purposes [11, 12]. However, vitality was measured according to the following scale: high, excellent healthy plant (vigor); medium, normal or some yellow leaflets and low, not healthy with yellow leaves [13].

**157**

**Table 1.**

*A Threatened Introduced Species (*Ficus benghalensis *L.) in Ismailia, Egypt*

In each site, three soil samples (0–20 cm depth) were taken for soil chemical and physical analyses. Particle size analysis was done by dry sieving for the coarse sand and by pipette for fine sand, slit, and clay [14]. Soil aggregation was treated by 5% of sodium hexametaphosphate as a dispersing agent. Soil was classified based on the percentage of clay and sand using USDA limits of the basic soil textural classes [15]. Soil pH was measured electrometrically using pH meter model 1671 in soil suspension of ratio 1:2.5 soil to water. The soil-water mixture was first shacked for

The EC was measured in the soil water extract 1:1 using electrical conductivity meter model 4310 ENAWY [17]. Reported the degree of salinity for the course to loamy sand (1:1 soil water extract) as follows: 0.1–1 ds\m for non-saline, and 1.2–2.4 ds\m for slightly saline, 2.5–4.4 ds\m for modestly saline and 4.5–8.9 ds/m for strongly saline. Soil organic matter influences many soil properties including (i) the capacity of soil to supply, N, P and S and trace metals to plant's, (ii) infiltration and retention of water, (iii) degree of aggregation and overall structure that affect air and water relationships, (iv) cation exchange capacity, (v) soil color, which in turn affects temperature relationships [18]. Soil organic matter was measured using loss-on ignition (LOI) method carried out at a high temperature. This method gives quantitative oxidation of organic matter [18].

Age dating of *Ficus* trees was assessed by counting the annual rings and measuring the circumference of the branches. To avoid destruction of *Ficus* trees, the counting procedure was applied to the already cut branches in each site. Annual

 (El Mawany) 1 7 12 14 4 1 (Mohamed Ali) 0 9 4 3 0 0 (Amon) 0 0 1 1 3 0 (Nemra Ceta) 3 10 7 6 6 1

**Age dating scale (year)**

**Site no. <150 151–200 201–250 251–300 301–350 >350**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88164*

2 hours, and then pH was measured [16].

*Age dating scale of F. benghalensis for the four studied localities.*

*F. benghalensis aerial roots in one of the four studied areas in Ismailia.*

**6. Soil analysis**

**Figure 4.**

**7. Age dating**

**Figure 3.** *F. benghalensis trees in Ismailia roads.*

*A Threatened Introduced Species (*Ficus benghalensis *L.) in Ismailia, Egypt DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88164*

**Figure 4.** *F. benghalensis aerial roots in one of the four studied areas in Ismailia.*
