THE IMPACT OF LAND DEGRADATION ON CULTURAL AND AGRO-BIO DIVERSITIES SOUTH BORG EL ARAB TOWN, ALEXANDRIA GOVERNORATE. | ||
| Journal of Biological Chemistry and Environmental Sciences | ||
| Volume 15, Issue 2, June 2025, Pages 25-49 PDF (1.22 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/bces.2025.465064 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The study area is situated southwest of Alexandria Governorate and north of Al Nasr irrigation canal covering 23,242.10 hectares (ha) including Abu Mena archaeological site. Preserving such historical sites is essential for maintaining cultural and agro-bio diversities. The overall view of land cover features in the study area is dominated by intensive terrestrial irrigated agriculture under surface irrigation of dense water canals. These intertwined elements caused hydraulic pressure on soil substrata and the threat posed by waterlogging and salinization to the World Heritage site. Land units of piedmonts and pediplain have soils of finer textures (sandy clay loams) compared to coarser textures (sandy loams) in playa within the depressed basin. Hydro-physical investigations show a prominent pathway of water flow from the piedmonts and pediplain in upper ground. Their soils have lower hydraulic conductivity (0.3-2.9 cm h-1 ) compared to more permeable soils (4.1-6.5 cm h-1 ) within the depressed basin. A core effective area of 9,236.97 ha was delineated as the key source of seepage. Results show that irrigation efficient as water application is reduced by more than 55% from 11,735 and 6,108 m³ha-1 in summer and winter crops to 6,572 and 3,466 m³ ha-1 under drip system. Irrigation water rationalization performance index is averaged as 5,163 m ³ha-1 for summer crops, while as 2,642 m³ha-1 for winter crops. Saved water is estimated to be 72,094 m³, justifying the claim that implementation of drip irrigation provides a lasting solution to the rising water tables issue and a sustainable water | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Land cover; land deterioration; physiography; soils and archeology | ||
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