Farmers response to water scarcity and salinity in a marginal area of Northern Syria

Abstract

Groundwater is an important resource in the dry areas, but often used unsustainably. The objective of this study was to monitor groundwater use for the irrigation of winter crops in Khanasser Valley, northwest Syria. The study area lies at the border of the steppe and is marginal for rainfed agriculture with 209 mm mean annual rainfall. The irrigated area sown to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) or wheat (Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum turgidum L.) was surveyed by GPS. Twenty percent of it was monitored for water-use and productivity. The average water-use (m³/ha) for different combinations of crops and irrigation methods was: sprinkler barley (949), surface-barley (1447), sprinkler-cumin (273), sprinkler-wheat (1053), and surface wheat (3270).