Assessing the Economic and Environmental Impacts of High Water Table Level on Soil Productivity in Ezbet

Awaad, Ayman El-Sayed; Saad El Dain, A. M. E.; Anwar, N. M.

doi:10.21608/jssae.2021.84147.1024

Assessing the Economic and Environmental Impacts of High Water Table Level on Soil Productivity in Ezbet

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Drainage Research Institute (DRI), National Water Research Center (NWRC), Cairo, Egypt

² Channel Maintenance Research Institute, National Water Research Center (NWRC), Cairo, Egypt

³ Environment and Climate Research Institute (ECRI), National Water Research Center (NWRC), Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/jssae.2021.84147.1024

Abstract

Drainage water from agricultural land in Fayoum Governorate discharges mainly to Lake Qaroun, because most Fayoum is below mean sea level. Lake Qaroun surface water level rises because drainage water from agricultural lands exceeds evaporation losses from the lake surface. Water logging and soil salinity increase in lower lands closer to the Lake, caused by seepage from the rising Lake water level, in addition to seepage from upstream higher lands. This problem causes great loss of crop productivity in the region. The selected study area is about 2000 feddans and it is representative of the problems of the lower lands near the lake shore. Attempts to leach excess soil salinity result in more water logging. The objective of this work is to evaluate the extent of water logging and salinity problems, and to suggest appropriate actions for improvement(s). Field investigation showed water logging variation in the study area from 5% to 100%. A statistical t-test compared the study area mean to Fayoum Governorate general average for the study crops, and it showed significant difference at 1% level. This study recommends the rehabilitation/maintenance of the cross-sections, bed levels and embankments of the canals/drains, and to lower drain bed levels to improve the drainage system in the study area. It also recommends the installation of tile-drainage network in the study area, and to construction a dike along Lake Qaroun shore line to protect low lands. It also recommends the construction of pumping/lifting station to raise drainage water to Lake Qaroun if necessary.

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