Typical landscape and grazing land of interior UAE
Photo courtesy of EAD-Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi. www.ead.gov.ae/
The land use of Abu Dhabi has seen considerable changes since the discovery of oil. Previously, most people had essentially a nomadic existence with a few more permanent centers located at the oases at Al Ain and Liwa where the growing of dates was the major activity. Along the coastline small settlements existed on pearling, fishing and an active trade with neighboring nations. The desert was the home of the Bedouin who traveled the sands, seeking grazing for their herds of camel and their flocks of sheep.
One of the biggest technical challenges facing agriculture in Abu Dhabi Emirate is the scarcity of good quality water to use for irrigation. In its 2007 Sustainability report, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi identified the need to reduce water consumption by nearly 25% over the following 5 years. Soil quality interacts strongly with water use efficiency of irrigation and so understanding the issues related to water resources is a key factor in understanding the soil properties important to farming in Abu Dhabi.
Areas with steep slopes make cultivation and water management difficult for field crops as well as reducing the efficiency of farming operations. Slope is only prohibitive to flood irrigation practices. Leveling of dunes is used to overcome this problem. Sprinkler irrigation may be considered on sloping ground.
Typical landscape and grazing land of interior UAE
Photo courtesy of EAD-Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi. www.ead.gov.ae/
The land use of Abu Dhabi has seen considerable changes since the discovery of oil. Previously, most people had essentially a nomadic existence with a few more permanent centers located at the oases at Al Ain and Liwa where the growing of dates was the major activity. Along the coastline small settlements existed on pearling, fishing and an active trade with neighboring nations. The desert was the home of the Bedouin who traveled the sands, seeking grazing for their herds of camel and their flocks of sheep.
One of the biggest technical challenges facing agriculture in Abu Dhabi Emirate is the scarcity of good quality water to use for irrigation. In its 2007 Sustainability report, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi identified the need to reduce water consumption by nearly 25% over the following 5 years. Soil quality interacts strongly with water use efficiency of irrigation and so understanding the issues related to water resources is a key factor in understanding the soil properties important to farming in Abu Dhabi.
Areas with steep slopes make cultivation and water management difficult for field crops as well as reducing the efficiency of farming operations. Slope is only prohibitive to flood irrigation practices. Leveling of dunes is used to overcome this problem. Sprinkler irrigation may be considered on sloping ground.