Akhal (2026) Desertification In Irrigated Areas in Mediterranean Environments, Case of Tadla’s Irrigated Perimeter

Identification

• Journal: BIO Web of Conferences
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Najat Akhal
• DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/202621503016

Research Groups

• Laboratory: Territory, Environment, and Development, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
• Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Tadla (ORMVAT).
• Oum Er Rbia Hydraulic Basin Agency (ABHOER).

Short Summary

This study examines the progression of desertification in Morocco's Tadla irrigated perimeter, identifying climate change and unregulated groundwater extraction as primary drivers of severe piezometric decline and soil salinization. The research highlights a critical disconnect between institutional water management and local farming practices, where 88% of wells operate without legal authorization.

Objective

• To identify the manifestations and primary causes of desertification within the Tadla irrigated perimeter.
• To evaluate the influence of climate change on the vulnerability and resilience of Mediterranean agricultural-hydrological systems.
• To propose mitigation strategies and sustainable irrigation solutions to preserve regional water resources.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: The Tadla plain in central Morocco, an alluvial depression of approximately 5,000 $km^2$ (125 km long and 40 km wide), with elevations between 350 m and 450 m above sea level.
• Temporal Scale: Multi-decadal analysis including rainfall data (1968–2024), piezometric levels (1975–2016), and soil salinity trends (2009–2017).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Spatial interpolation via Universal Kriging (ArcGIS); statistical analysis using SPSS and Excel.
• Data sources:
  • Territorial surveys involving 660 farmers (simple random sampling).
  • Historical climate data from the Ouled Sidi Driss and Beni Mellal agro-meteorological stations.
  • Piezometric and salinity records provided by ORMVAT and ABHOER.
  • Field observations and documentary research from environmental observatories.

Main Results

• Groundwater Depletion: Piezometric levels dropped significantly from a minimum of 6.5 m to a maximum of 16.2 m between 1995 and 2016, driven by a proliferation of over 6,630 wells and boreholes in the Beni Moussa area alone.
• Soil Salinity: The Beni Amir sector is the most affected, with electrical conductivity (EC) fluctuating between 4 and 6 dS/m (reaching up to 9.44 dS/m in specific zones), largely due to the use of saline water from Oued Oum Er Rbia.
• Climate Extremes: Recent annual rainfall has dwindled to approximately 100 mm, while maximum summer temperatures reached a record average of 49.2 °C in July 2024, intensifying evaporation rates (exceeding 500 mm in summer).
• Socio-Technical Gaps: 88% of farmers utilize unauthorized wells; 78% lack knowledge regarding localized irrigation systems, and 42% remain unconvinced of their utility despite the water crisis.

Contributions

• Provides a detailed longitudinal case study of desertification in a major Mediterranean irrigation scheme, linking climate variability directly to groundwater exhaustion.
• Quantifies the "injustice of groundwater resources" by mapping the spatial distribution of salinity and piezometric drawdown.
• Identifies specific socio-educational barriers to the adoption of water-saving technologies (localized irrigation) among Moroccan farmers.

Funding

• Research supported by the Laboratory: Territory, Environment, and Development at Ibn Tofail University. No specific project reference codes were provided in the text.

Citation

@article{Akhal2026Desertification,
  author = {Akhal, Najat},
  title = {Desertification In Irrigated Areas in Mediterranean Environments, Case of Tadla’s Irrigated Perimeter},
  journal = {BIO Web of Conferences},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1051/bioconf/202621503016},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202621503016}
}

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