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Profile photo of Hossein Hashemi

Hossein Hashemi

Researcher

Profile photo of Hossein Hashemi

Soil salinization and critical shallow groundwater depth under saline irrigation condition in a Saharan irrigated land

Author

  • Zied Haj-Amor
  • Hossein Hashemi
  • Salem Bouri

Summary, in English

In the arid irrigated lands, understanding the impact of shallow groundwater fluctuation on soil salinization has become crucial. Thus, investigation of the possible options for maintaining the groundwater depth for improving land productivity is of great importance. In this study, under saline irrigation condition, the effects of shallow groundwater depth on water and salt dynamics in the root-zone of date palms were analyzed through a particular field and modeling (SWAP) investigation in a Tunisian Saharan oasis (Dergine Oasis). The model was calibrated and validated against the measured soil water content through the date palm root-zone. The good agreement between measured and estimated soil water content demonstrated that the SWAP model is an effective tool to accurately simulate the water and salt dynamics in the root-zone of date palm. Multiple groundwater depth scenarios were performed, using the calibrated SWAP model, to achieve the optimal groundwater depth. The simulation results revealed that the shallow groundwater with a depth of ~80 cm coupled with frequent irrigation (20 days interval) during the summer season is the best practice to maintain the adequate soil water content (>0.035 (cm3 cm−3) and safe salinity level (<4 dS m−1) in the root-zone layer. The results of field investigation and numerical simulation in the present study can lead to a better management of lands with shallow water table in the Saharan irrigated areas.

Department/s

  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • Division of Water Resources Engineering
  • LTH Profile Area: Water
  • Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)

Publishing year

2017-07-01

Language

English

Publication/Series

Arabian Journal of Geosciences

Volume

10

Issue

14

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Keywords

  • Shallow groundwater
  • Soil salinization
  • Soil water content
  • SWAP

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1866-7511