تقييم المياه الجوفية و دورها في استصلاح الأراضي بمحافظة سوهاج

Abstract EN

The Nile valley in Sohag Governorate is bounded by the Lower Eocene limestone scarps that form the boundary of the Nile Valley in Sohag.

These plateaus are dissected by a number of drainage basins (dry wadis) that drains towards the valley from the east and the west.

The surface areas of these basins are around 175821 feddan (740 km2).

Recent activities of the land cultivation are carried out in the area covering about 70028 feddan (295 km2) while 43420 feddan (182 km2) could be reclaimed.

The remaining area of about 62373 feddan (263 km2) is not suitable for land reclamation due to the unsuitability of the soils, limited water availability and the associated high costs.

Based on the hydrogeological, geoelectrical and hydrochemical studies, groundwater in the area is divided into three zones; the first zone is located under the old cultivated lands where the aquifers is presented by the Pleistocene sand and gravels of the semi-confined conditions.

This zone represents the highest groundwater potentiality and the good quality water that is suitable for the different purposes of use.

This zone is surrounded by medium groundwater potentiality zone and acceptable water quality.

The zone is adjacent to the old cultivated lands and groundwater exists under unconfined conditions.

Most of the land cultivation activities are restricted to this zone.

The last zone represents the lowest groundwater potentiality of high salt contents and bounded by no water zone that located adjacent to the limestone scarp.

The recharge to the aquifer is made by the infiltration from the irrigation water to the semi-confined aquifer that seeps laterally to the unconfined part of the aquifer under the desert areas, in addition to the percolation of the irrigation water in the reclaimed areas.

The land reclamation activities in the area depends on the extraction of groundwater from the water bearing layers where uncontrolled heavy pumping are carried out to meet the water requirement which may lead to aquifer depletion.

In the present articles, mitigation measures and recommendation are given to improve the efficiency of land reclamation in the desert areas surrounding Sohag Governorate.