Cultivation Features Using Meteorological and Satellite Data from 2001 to 2010 in Dakhla Oasis, Egypt
Affiliation(s)
1 Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan. 2 Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan. 3 Faculty of Foreign Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
1 Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan. 2 Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan. 3 Faculty of Foreign Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
ABSTRACT
The differences between the oasis region and the regions of the Nile delta and Nile valley in Egypt are due mainly to the regions’ access to water. The oasis region depends on underground water, while the other regions rely on the Nile River. Numerous studies on cultivation in the Nile delta have been accumulated. However, few studies have addressed cultivation in the oasis region. This study examines cultivation throughout the government and local well districts using meteorological and satellite data from 2001 to 2010, and the interview in Rashda Village, Dakhla Oasis. Since the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is lower in winter than in summer, cultivation in winter makes sense from the viewpoint of saving irrigation water. Evapotranspiration is highest in the order of date palm, rice paddy, winter wheat, and clover hay under sufficient wet conditions in Rashda Village. Cultivation features and water requirements were examined using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). Results indicated a distinct difference in cultivation systems between the summer and winter seasons in the government well district. Water requirements for date palm in the local well district were 2.6 times those for winter plants in the government well district, using the accumulated NDWI value.
The differences between the oasis region and the regions of the Nile delta and Nile valley in Egypt are due mainly to the regions’ access to water. The oasis region depends on underground water, while the other regions rely on the Nile River. Numerous studies on cultivation in the Nile delta have been accumulated. However, few studies have addressed cultivation in the oasis region. This study examines cultivation throughout the government and local well districts using meteorological and satellite data from 2001 to 2010, and the interview in Rashda Village, Dakhla Oasis. Since the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is lower in winter than in summer, cultivation in winter makes sense from the viewpoint of saving irrigation water. Evapotranspiration is highest in the order of date palm, rice paddy, winter wheat, and clover hay under sufficient wet conditions in Rashda Village. Cultivation features and water requirements were examined using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). Results indicated a distinct difference in cultivation systems between the summer and winter seasons in the government well district. Water requirements for date palm in the local well district were 2.6 times those for winter plants in the government well district, using the accumulated NDWI value.
KEYWORDS
Ground Water, Evapotranspiration, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Water Index, Nubian Aquifer
Ground Water, Evapotranspiration, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Water Index, Nubian Aquifer
Cite this paper
Kimura, R. , Kato, H. and Iwasaki, E. (2015) Cultivation Features Using Meteorological and Satellite Data from 2001 to 2010 in Dakhla Oasis, Egypt. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 209-218. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.73017.
Kimura, R. , Kato, H. and Iwasaki, E. (2015) Cultivation Features Using Meteorological and Satellite Data from 2001 to 2010 in Dakhla Oasis, Egypt. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 209-218. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.73017.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2151/sola.2012-020 [9] ArcGIS Resource Center (2011) NDVI Function.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(96)00067-3 [11] Nada, A.A. (1995) Evaluation of Environmental Isotopic and Salinar Composition of Groundwater in Oases of the Western Desert, Egypt. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 31, 117-124.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10256019508036257 [12] Kondo, J. (1994) Meteorology of the Water Environment—Water and Heat Balance of the Earth’s Surface. Asakura, Tokyo.
[1] Kato, H., Iwasaki, E., Nagasawa, E., Anyoji, H., Matsuoka, N. and Kimura, R. (2010) Rashda: System of Irrigation and Cultivation in a Village in Dakhla Oasis. Mediterranean World, 20, 1-45. [2] Dabous, A.A. and Osmond, J.K. (2001) Uranium Isotopic Study of Artesian and Pluvial Contributions to the Nubian Aquifer, Western Desert, Egypt. Journal of Hydrology, 243, 242-253.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(00)00417-0 [3] UNEP (1997) World Atlas of Desertification. Arnold, London. [4] Brookes, I.A. (2001) Aeolian Erosional Lineations in the Libyan Desert, Dakhla Region, Egypt. Geomorphology, 39, 189-209.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(01)00026-5 [5] Allen, R.G., Pereira, L.S., Raes, D. and Smith, M. (1998) Crop Evapotranspiration: Guidelines for Computing Crop Water Requirements. FAO, Rome. [6] Robaa, S.M. (2008) Evaluation of Sunshine Duration from Cloud Data in Egypt. Energy, 33, 785-795.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2007.12.001 [7] Rouse, J.W., Haas, R.H., Schell, J.A. and Deering, D.W. (1974) Monitoring Vegetation Systems in the Great Plains with ERTS. Third ERTS-1 Symposium NASA, NASA SP-351, Washington DC, 309-317. [8] Kimura, R. (2012) Effect of the Strong Wind and Land Cover in Dust Source Regions on the Asian Dust Event over Japan from 2000 to 2011. SOLA, 8, 77-80.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2151/sola.2012-020 [9] ArcGIS Resource Center (2011) NDVI Function.
http://resources.arcgis.com [10] Gao, B.C. (1996) NDWI—A Normalized Difference Water Index for Remote Sensing of Vegetation Liquid Water from Space. Remote Sensing of Environment, 58, 257-266.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(96)00067-3 [11] Nada, A.A. (1995) Evaluation of Environmental Isotopic and Salinar Composition of Groundwater in Oases of the Western Desert, Egypt. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 31, 117-124.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10256019508036257 [12] Kondo, J. (1994) Meteorology of the Water Environment—Water and Heat Balance of the Earth’s Surface. Asakura, Tokyo.