Upstream-Downstream Influence of Water Harvesting Techniques (Jessour) on Soil Water Retention in Southeast Tunisia-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Upstream-Downstream Influence of Water Harvesting Techniques (Jessour) on Soil Water Retention in Southeast Tunisia

Published:2023-04-01 Issue:7 Volume:15 Page:1361
ISSN:2073-4441
Container-title:Water
language:en
Short-container-title:Water

Author:

Calianno Martin¹²^ORCID,Ben Fraj Tarek³⁴,Fallot Jean-Michel¹,Abbassi Mohamed³⁵,Ghram Messedi Aziza³⁵^ORCID,Ben Ouezdou Hédi³⁵,Reynard Emmanuel¹^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Geography and Sustainability and Interdisciplinary Centre for Mountain Research, University of Lausanne, Quartier Mouline, Géopolis, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

2. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Modesta Victoria 4450, San Carlos de Bariloche 8400, Argentina

3. CGMED Laboratory, University of Tunis, 94, BD du 9 avril 1938, Tunis 1007, Tunisia

4. Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences, University of Sousse, Cité Erriadh, Sousse 4023, Tunisia

5. Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Tunis, 4, BD du 9 avril 1938, Tunis 1007, Tunisia

Abstract

Weather parameters and soil moisture profiles were measured at an hourly time step during four agricultural years (September to October, from 2018–19 to 2021–22) in two Jessour (water harvesting cultivated terraces) of the same valley in Zmerten (southeastern Tunisia), characterized by an arid climate. One instrumented Jesr (singular of Jessour) was located upstream and the other one downstream. During each dry season, when crops experience water stress, the downstream Jesr had a higher available water content than the upstream one; in the downstream Jesr the soil profile moisture remained above the wilting point, whereas in the upstream soil surface, moisture levels decreased to below the wilting point. High accumulation/low intensity rains (causing saturation/excess runoff) flooded both upstream and downstream Jessour from 50 mm of cumulative rainfall, whereas high intensity/low accumulation rains (causing infiltration/excess runoff) activated the downstream Jesr from an intensity of 15.2 mm/h, and a combination of moderate intensity and moderate accumulation rains activated both Jessour from an intensity of 8 mm/h and a cumulative rainfall of 33 mm. We propose to set 50 mm of cumulative rainfall and/or 6.4 mm/h of intensity as threshold values for the activation of the Jessour system in Zmerten. However, significant soil moisture recharges can occur even without activation of the Jessour system.

Funder

Investment Fund of the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment (FGSE) of Lausanne University

Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) of Lausanne University

Laboratory of Geomorphologic Cartography of Settings, Environments and Dynamics (CGMED) of Tunis University

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Water Science and Technology,Aquatic Science,Geography, Planning and Development,Biochemistry

Link

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/7/1361/pdf

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