Trends in land use and water consumption are crucial components in understanding the changing nature of agricultural production and water use in- the Northern Jordan Valley. The objective of this study is to examine c...Trends in land use and water consumption are crucial components in understanding the changing nature of agricultural production and water use in- the Northern Jordan Valley. The objective of this study is to examine current agricultural land uses in the Jordan Valley and their water consumption patterns as well as to examine the changes in land use and water consumption that occurred between the years 2002 and 2010. Farm level cropping patterns and total annual water use were analysed in order to examine inter-basin land use and water consumption characteristics as well as to estimate the amount of water consumed by each respective crop in total and per unit of land devoted to its production. It was found that citrus production dominated both land and water usage in every basin of the Northern Jordan Valley and that between 2002 and 2010 there were shifts toward increasing citrus production in almost every basin surveyed. It was found that agricultural irrigation water usage decreased overall between 2002 and 2010 by approximately 15 percent and irrigated land usage in the Jordan Valley increased by 5 percent. The role of citrus farming is becoming more important in the Jordan Valley as Jordan＇s agricultural economy shifts away from subsistence farming for staple food crops like wheat and vegetables toward more financially lucrative crops grown for an increasingly international market. This trend is at least partly due to the increasing cost of agricultural irrigation water from Jordan＇s national canal system.展开更多
The integrated effect of irrigation and agricultural practices on soil salinity in the Jordan Valley （JV）, where over 60% of Jordan＇s agricultural produce is grown, was investigated in this study during 2009-2010. ...The integrated effect of irrigation and agricultural practices on soil salinity in the Jordan Valley （JV）, where over 60% of Jordan＇s agricultural produce is grown, was investigated in this study during 2009-2010. Due to the differences in agricultural operations, cropping patterns, irrigation management, and weather conditions, 206 top- and sub-soil samples were taken every 1 to 3 km from representative farms along a north-south （N-S） transect with 1 to 2 km lateral extents. Soil electrical conductivity of saturated extract （ECse）, Ca, Mg, K, Na, CI, and Na adsorption ratio （SAR） were determined in saturated paste extracts. Results indicated that about 63% of soils in the JV are indeed saline, out of which almost 46% are moderately to strongly saline. Along the N-S transect of the JV, ECse increased from 4.5 to 14.1 dS m-1 in top-soil samples. Similar increase was observed for the sub-soil samples. The major chemical components of soil salinity; i.e., Ca, Mg, and C1, also showed a similar increase along the N-S transect of the valley. Moreover, compared to previous field sampling, results showed that changes in soil salinity in the JV were dramatic. In addition, it was found that C1 imposed an existing and potential threat to sensitive crops in 60% of the soils in the JV, where C1 concentrations were greater than 710 mg L-1. Under the prevalent arid Mediterranean conditions, improving the management of .irrigation water, crops, and nutrient inputs and increasing water and fertilizer use efficiencies should be indispensable to conserve and sustain the already fragile agricultural soils in the JV.展开更多
文摘Trends in land use and water consumption are crucial components in understanding the changing nature of agricultural production and water use in- the Northern Jordan Valley. The objective of this study is to examine current agricultural land uses in the Jordan Valley and their water consumption patterns as well as to examine the changes in land use and water consumption that occurred between the years 2002 and 2010. Farm level cropping patterns and total annual water use were analysed in order to examine inter-basin land use and water consumption characteristics as well as to estimate the amount of water consumed by each respective crop in total and per unit of land devoted to its production. It was found that citrus production dominated both land and water usage in every basin of the Northern Jordan Valley and that between 2002 and 2010 there were shifts toward increasing citrus production in almost every basin surveyed. It was found that agricultural irrigation water usage decreased overall between 2002 and 2010 by approximately 15 percent and irrigated land usage in the Jordan Valley increased by 5 percent. The role of citrus farming is becoming more important in the Jordan Valley as Jordan＇s agricultural economy shifts away from subsistence farming for staple food crops like wheat and vegetables toward more financially lucrative crops grown for an increasingly international market. This trend is at least partly due to the increasing cost of agricultural irrigation water from Jordan＇s national canal system.
文摘The integrated effect of irrigation and agricultural practices on soil salinity in the Jordan Valley （JV）, where over 60% of Jordan＇s agricultural produce is grown, was investigated in this study during 2009-2010. Due to the differences in agricultural operations, cropping patterns, irrigation management, and weather conditions, 206 top- and sub-soil samples were taken every 1 to 3 km from representative farms along a north-south （N-S） transect with 1 to 2 km lateral extents. Soil electrical conductivity of saturated extract （ECse）, Ca, Mg, K, Na, CI, and Na adsorption ratio （SAR） were determined in saturated paste extracts. Results indicated that about 63% of soils in the JV are indeed saline, out of which almost 46% are moderately to strongly saline. Along the N-S transect of the JV, ECse increased from 4.5 to 14.1 dS m-1 in top-soil samples. Similar increase was observed for the sub-soil samples. The major chemical components of soil salinity; i.e., Ca, Mg, and C1, also showed a similar increase along the N-S transect of the valley. Moreover, compared to previous field sampling, results showed that changes in soil salinity in the JV were dramatic. In addition, it was found that C1 imposed an existing and potential threat to sensitive crops in 60% of the soils in the JV, where C1 concentrations were greater than 710 mg L-1. Under the prevalent arid Mediterranean conditions, improving the management of .irrigation water, crops, and nutrient inputs and increasing water and fertilizer use efficiencies should be indispensable to conserve and sustain the already fragile agricultural soils in the JV.
