Sustainability of Irrigated Land use System in the Arid Zone of Um Jawasir Project North Sudan.

Abstract

The study was conducted in arid zone at Um jawasir project, located in Merowe locality, Northern State. The objective was to assess the sustainability of the land use system being introduced on a background of drifting sand and assess the other possible sustainability issues. The study was focused on the moving sand in the project area and constraints of sustainable production. The deposited sand accumulated at the three project phases at earth embankment was measured. In phase zero 100% of the area was invaded by sand and abandoned. In phase one 35% of the farm was abandoned due to sand invasion while in phase two 25% of the farm was covered by sand. The sand accumulated at earth embankment (1) has increased on the southern side significantly, 4347m3, in comparison with the northern side, 2662m3. The sand accumulated at earth embankment (2) has increased on the northern side significantly 6086m3; while at the southern side it was only 1816m3. The amount of deposited sand on the south side of the earth embankment (1) was 39 m3/ m length, where at the north side the amount deposited, is 32 m3/ m length. The amount of deposited sand on the south side of the earth embankment (2) was 21m3/ m length, where at the north side the amount of deposited were 47m3/ m length. Sand passing in one year for earth embankment (1) in 1995 was 3m3/m/year and2m3/m/year for the south and north sides, respectively. Sand passing in one year for earth embankment (2) in the next year (2000) was 3m3/m/year and 7m3/m/year for the south and north sides, respectively. Um jawasir project was facing some constraints in agricultural production. These problems are; sand which have the highest importance, 48% of the III respondents, irrigation with 36% of the respondents, cost about 16% of the respondents.