Review of Omani Aflaj Systems: an Element of National Water Resources,Technology and Economic Developments

Shahalam, Abulbasher M.

doi:10.24200/squjs.vol6iss1pp1-14

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…It permits the collecting of water resources that are, otherwise, hard to tap in the prevailing geologically and topographically difficult land. Its social organisation and effective basin-based distribution system enable a surprisingly uniform irrigation of fields (Wilkinson 1977;Abdel-Rahman and Abdel-Magid 1993;Al Ghafri et al 2001;Al Marshudi 2001;Shahalam 2001). While debate about the origins of the aflaj irrigation system and the development of irrigated agriculture in the region is ongoing, archaeological and palaeo-climatic evidence indicates that the Oman Peninsula played a key role in it, as it did in the invention of Sarooj cement (Al Rawasa et al 1998).…”

Section: Countries Which Have Conserved the Mkayelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of climate change on groundwater and the extinction of ancient “Foggara” and springs systems in arid lands in North Africa: a case study in Gafsa basin (Central of Tunisia)

Mokadem

Redhaounia

Besser

et al. 2018

Euro-Mediterr J Environ Integr

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The rising increase in groundwater abstraction to serve the industrial sector and to fulfill the agricultural and domestic needs, coupled with severe drought periods during the past decades, leads to a growing deficit of water. The drawdown of piezometric levels and progressing degradation of water quality are the main consequences of such intensive exploitation. In this connection, the present study emphasizes the major effects of groundwater resource overexploitation in Southern Tunisia, and it evaluates its impacts on the ancient mkayel "Foggara" system. Although it is crucial role in various aspects of modern society, especially in Gafsa basin ("El Guettar region", central of Tunisia), this system is facing an increasing abandonment with the introduction of new technologies in response to the irrational exploitation. The mkayel are particularly susceptible to impairment by groundwater withdrawals with modern wells and pumps. In arid regions, the proper conservation and maintenance of the mkayel systems constitute promising alternatives for sustainable water management and for supporting economic development. In the past few decades, we witness a gradual disappearance of these galleries by an average loss of a dozen of mkayels per year for over half of a century expressed by a significant drop in the discharge of the 800 functional mkayels, enough to irrigate 450 ha, from 1000 l/s in 1900, 200 l/s in 1960, and 5 l/s in 1975 to 0 l/s in 2011 related to technical, social, and environmental causes. Despite the continuous extinction of mkayels, many Arabic countries still consider it as an important system of water transfer.

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Section: Countries Which Have Conserved the Mkayelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of climate change on groundwater and the extinction of ancient “Foggara” and springs systems in arid lands in North Africa: a case study in Gafsa basin (Central of Tunisia)

Mokadem

Redhaounia

Besser

et al. 2018

Euro-Mediterr J Environ Integr

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“…Once the falaj system has been established, irrigation water flow is ensured by gravity and does not require direct energy inputs. Shahalam (2001) estimated that 4,000 aflaj exist in the Sultanate of Oman supplying about one third of the country's water demand.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mountain oases in northern Oman: An environment for evolution and in situ conservation of plant genetic resources

Gebauer

Luedeling

Hammer

et al. 2007

Genet Resour Crop Evol

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Several botanical studies have been conducted in different parts of Oman, but knowledge about agro-biodiversity in the rapidly decaying ancient mountain oases of this country remains scarce. To fill this gap we assessed the genetic resources of three mountain oases in the al-Hajar range using a GIS-based field survey and farmer interviews. While arid conditions prevail throughout the mountain range, the different elevations of Balad Seet (950-1020 m a.s.l.), Maqta (930-1180 m a.s.l.) and Al Jabal al Akhdar (1750-1930 m a.s.l.) provide markedly differing agro-climatic conditions. Overall, 107 different crop species were identified belonging to 39 families. Species number was highest among fruits (33 spp.), followed by vegetables (24 spp.). Intensive irrigation allows cultivation of a broad range of species at all oases. However, the number of species varied significantly between sites. Fruit species diversity and homogeneity of distribution of individual fruit species was highest at Balad Seet and lowest at Maqta as indicated by respective Shannon indices of 1.00 and 0.39 and evenness values of 32% and 16%. Century plant (Agave americana L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor Peterm. em. Harz) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) were identified as relict crops, supporting oral reports of past cultivation and providing evidence of genetic erosion. Some species, such as the temperate fruits of Al Jabal al Akhdar, were exclusively found at the coolest site, while others only occurred at the hotter locations. Overall greatest species similarity was found between Balad Seet and Al Jabal al Akhdar as indicated by a Sørensen coefficient of similarity of 67%. At all oases a multilayered vegetation structure dominated with a canopy, an understory and a ground layer. Greatest species richness was recorded in the lowest stratum. Overall the study shows a location-specific but surprisingly diverse mosaic of crops in Omani mountain oases which merits further studies and conservation efforts.Dedicated to the memory of Richard N. Lester , keen researcher of plant genetic resources.

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“…Although prehistorically Oman did have surface water flow, as suggested by its morphology [3], the country no longer has lakes or permanent rivers/streams. Thus, the country's only freshwater sources are intermittent wadi flow resulting from limited rain, and groundwater.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Evidence for the Decline in Discharge at Falaj Daris, Nizwa, Oman

Al-Rawahi,

R. Houser

2024

SQU Journal for Science

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Falaj Daris is one of the oldest active aflāj located in Oman and the largest in the Dakhiliyah governorate. It is a 7,999-meter long Dāwūdī-type falaj. Ninety-five percent of water drawn from falaj Daris is used for agricultural irrigation and the remaining five percent is used for domestic purposes. In this paper, we analyzed several datasets including falaj Daris discharge, borehole water levels in wadi al-Abyadh, whose aquifer falaj Daris taps, and GRACE satellite data to determine the historical trend of falaj Daris discharge during 1982-2020. A set of standard statistical methods and data visualization techniques were applied including the Mann-Kendall trend test. Preliminary evidence shows a decline of 226,000 L/day in falaj Daris discharge between 1982-2020. This finding is supported by the overall trends in borehole water levels in wadi al-Abyadh. All these trends were confirmed using GRACE satellite data which shows a decrease in water volume of 6 (WET cm) in the larger basin between 2002-2021. Keywords: qanat; falaj Daris; wadi al-Abyadh; Nizwa, Oman; GRACE satellite.

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Review of Omani Aflaj Systems: an Element of National Water Resources,Technology and Economic Developments

Cited by 4 publications

References 1 publication

Impact of climate change on groundwater and the extinction of ancient “Foggara” and springs systems in arid lands in North Africa: a case study in Gafsa basin (Central of Tunisia)

Impact of climate change on groundwater and the extinction of ancient “Foggara” and springs systems in arid lands in North Africa: a case study in Gafsa basin (Central of Tunisia)

Mountain oases in northern Oman: An environment for evolution and in situ conservation of plant genetic resources

Preliminary Evidence for the Decline in Discharge at Falaj Daris, Nizwa, Oman

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