Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol 28, Issue 3, 2022; Page No.(1207-1215)

EVALUATION OF SOIL CHANGES UNDER AGRICULTURALMANAGEMENT AND IRRIGATION IN AN ARID REGION: THE CASEOF GHARDAïA (ZELFANA)

Faredj Chikhi, Mohamed Benslama, Fouzi Benbrahim, Abderraouf Benslama,Sabrine Darem, Imane Hamel and Jose Navarro-Pedreño

Abstract

The sustainability of soils is a major concern as they provide multiple functions such as agriculturalproduction, water filtration and biotope for livingorganisms. Crop sustainability in an arid environmentrequires the study of the components of this environment. Our work carried out in the region of Zelfana(Sahara Desert), 60 km far from the capital of Ghardaïa province, aims to diagnose and characterize the soilchanges produced due to the cultivation of palm trees. For this purpose, systematic sampling was carriedout and soil data measured on plots cultivated for 60 years, comparing with those of an uncultivated area(control). The undisturbed soils have coarse textured, low organic matter content, are moderately to highlycalcareous, and present low to high salinity and alkaline. The results of the cultivated topsoil and theannual rate of change showed that there was a highly significant decrease in total limestone and pH, and ahighly significant increase in electrical conductivity and organic matter due to the cropping system. Thesechanges are justified by the effect of the years of cultivation and the farmers’ management (i.e. addition oforganic manure and the flood irrigation).