Primary Navigation

Research update

Saving water to help maintain Abu Dhabi forests

18 Oct 2019

The ‘greening of the desert’ in Abu Dhabi in the 1970s created arid forests with ecosystem and cultural value. However, their maintenance relies on using precious groundwater reserves which are becoming depleted. To control these water reserves a law has been introduced restricting the use of groundwater.

Scientists from Plant & Food Research have collaborated with Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) looking at the feasibility of using tertiary treated sewage effluent (TSE) as an alternative to groundwater to irrigate two major arid forest species. TSE is similarly high in plant nutrients to groundwater and is often just discharged into the Arabian Gulf.

The study found that 25% less TSE is required than groundwater. Further, both forest species had a stronger growth response with TSE.

The study builds on earlier research which identified a new allocation regime for groundwater, resulting in water savings of up to 40%. In addition to using this regime, using TSE instead of groundwater would represent a 50-60% reduction in water usage overall, as well as using an alternative irrigation source.

The results of this study will provide (EAD) with guidelines for using TSE to irrigate these forest species.  This research resulted in Wafa Al Yamani from EAD gaining a PhD through Massey University.

Journal Reference:

Al-Yamani W, Green S, Pangilinan R, Dixon S, Shahid S, Kemp P, Clothier B, 2019 The impact of replacing groundwater by treated sewage effluent on the irrigation requirements of Al Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria) and Al Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi) forests in the hyper-arid deserts of Abu Dhabi. Agricultural Water Management 214 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.12.031

Interested?

Get in touch