Water, Land and Ecosystems - Oman

Simulation-optimization approach for evaluating the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in the Samail Lower Catchment, Oman

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Ebrahim, Girma Yimer
Jonoski, A.
Al-Maktoumi, A.
Ahmed, M.
Mynett, A.

This article presents a simulation-optimization approach for evaluating the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in the Samail Lower Catchment, Oman. The objective is to provide a maximum recharge and extraction rate through MAR in an annual cycle of two successive injection and recovery periods, while meeting operational and system constraints such as water level, gradient, and travel time. Three groundwater management problems were solved by coupling a simulation model with successive linear programming (SLP) and the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) multiobjective genetic algorithm. Sensitivity analysis was also completed to examine the overall response of the simulation-optimization results to changes in hydraulic conductivities and maximum injection rates. Results using the SLP algorithm showed that the total volume of injected water for 4 months of injection without recovery is as high as 8 × 106 m3, and the total recovered volume of water for 4months injection and 8 months recovery is approximately 5.3 × 106 m3, giving a total recovery efficiency of approximately 66%. For the same setup the NSGA-II algorithm derived the entire nondominated front of solutions for two conflicting objectives: maximizing recovery rate and maximizing minimum groundwater head close to the sea (for preventing seawater intrusion). This algorithm includes travel time constraints directly in the optimization process. In conclusion, the proposed approach provides a cost-effective means to evaluate MAR in a coastal aquifer.

Citation

Ebrahim, Girma Yimer; Jonoski, A.; Al-Maktoumi, A.; Ahmed, M.; Mynett, A. 2015. Simulation-optimization approach for evaluating the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in the Samail Lower Catchment, Oman. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 16p. (Online first). doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000588

Accessibility

Limited Access

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/69370

Impact of sedimentation on groundwater recharge at Sahalanowt Dam, Salalah, Oman. Technical note

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Prathapar, Sanmugam A.
Bawain, A.A.

Recharge dams in Oman detain floods to recharge groundwater. The impact of sedimentation on recharge at Wadi Sahalanowt Recharge Dam, in Salalah, Oman, was evaluated using field data and numerical modelling. Analysis of the thickness of sediments after flood events shows that maximum depositions were at the same locations after each event, coinciding with the lowest positions in the wadi. Numerical modelling suggests that the current practice of periodic removal of sediments will restore the storage capacity of the reservoir, but that ploughing or raking of the underlying native sedimentary rocks could be required to significantly improve infiltration rates.

Citation

Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Bawain, A. A. 2014. Impact of sedimentation on groundwater recharge at Sahalanowt Dam, Salalah, Oman. Technical note. Water International, 39(3):381-393. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2014.895889

Accessibility

Limited Access

Research Themes

Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/58378

Conjunctive use of reclaimed water and groundwater in crop rotations

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Al Khamisi, S.A.
Prathapar, Sanmugam A.
Ahmed, M.

Irrigated agriculture in Oman relies solely on groundwater and Aflaj (Falaj is a canal system, which provides water for a community of farmers for domestic and agricultural use). With the increasing scarcity of freshwater available to agriculture, the need to use of reclaimed water (RW) from Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) in agriculture has increased. In this study, we explored how RW from an STP can be used directly, without Aquifer Storage and Recovery, as a source of irrigation water in conjunction with groundwater for agriculture. Average data from Muscat, Oman in the years from 1996 to 2010 was used for calculation of crop water requirement. Wheat, cowpea and maize were chosen as crops to be grown in rotation through the year. Using RW irrigation conjunctively with groundwater cropping areas of wheat, cowpea and maize can be increased by 323, 250 and 318% respectively, against utilization RW only. Of the total irrigation requirement 57.6% was met with reclaimed water (RW) and 42.4% was met with groundwater (GW). Therefore, it is recommended that decision makers should consider piping RW to areas where groundwater of good quality is available to conjunctively use and meet crop water requirements, rather than piping it to areas where groundwater is saline and unsuitable for irrigation. This will prevent disposal of RW to the sea and minimize stress on fresh groundwater zones.

Citation

Al Khamisi, S. A.; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Ahmed, M. 2013. Conjunctive use of reclaimed water and groundwater in crop rotations. Agricultural Water Management, 116:228-234. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2012.07.013

Accessibility

Limited Access

Research Themes

Land and Water Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40247

Conjunctive use of reclaimed water and groundwater in crop rotations

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Subjects

Conjunctive use
Groundwater
Wastewater;
Irrigation

Languageen

Authors

Al Khamisi, S. A.
Prathapar, Sanmugam A.
Ahmed, M.

Citation

Al Khamisi, S. A.; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Ahmed, M. 2013. Conjunctive use of reclaimed water and groundwater in crop rotations. Agricultural Water Management 116:228-234.

Accessibility

Limited Access

Research Themes

Land and Water Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34542

Solutions

The potential of transforming Salalah into Oman’s vegetables basket

wle_admin — Mon, 09 May 2016 09:03:55 +0000

Authors

Prathapar, Sanmugam A.
Khan, M. M.
Mbaga, M. D.

Accessibility

Limited Access

Date Available

April 30, 2015

Last Updated

April 30, 2015

Agriculture in the Sultanate of Oman is mostly small scale and is a part of the traditional way of life. The majority of the population benefit from agriculture, however little. The 67 % of the population was in households that had at least one crop or livestock holding where the output contributed to consumption or income. Since the year 2000, the Government spent Rial Omani (RO) 20.1 million on agriculture and fishery development, and another RO 39.4 million on water resources development. Furthermore, the government encourages farming by offering land, machinery, and extension services. However, during the period 2000 till 2007, crop production has in fact gone down. In other words, despite being a capital rich country, substantial investment in agriculture, it is increasingly becoming a food insecure country. An indepth analysis of Oman’s agricultural sub-sectors shows that, household sub-sector contributed 27 % of the total value. Primary crop production in Oman in 2005/07 was 486.872 metric tons of which contribution of fruits and vegetables were 353,072 metric tons and 102,606 respectively. In comparison, only 26,206 metric tons of cereals were produced. The value of production of cereals and vegetables were 7.8 and 17.6 million RO respectively. This comparison confirms that Omanis prefer producing high value vegetables to cereal crops. In addition to vegetables produced locally, Oman imported 148,345 metric tons during the same period. Therefore, it is interesting to explore, if vegetable production in Oman can be further increased, resulting in increased income and near self-sufficiency in vegetables. If Oman chooses to increase vegetable production, then it has to come from a major shift in its current land and water use practices, because almost all of its cultivable lands and available freshwater are fully utilized at present. In this chapter we explored if the Salalah region of Oman could be transformed into Oman’s vegetable basket, leading to self-sufficiency in its vegetable needs.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/65275

Citation

Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Khan, M. M.; Mbaga, M. D. 2014. The potential of transforming Salalah into Oman’s vegetables basket. In Shahid, S. A.; Ahmed, M. (Eds.). Environmental cost and face of agriculture in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: fostering agriculture in the context of climate change. London, UK: Springer. 15p.

Languageen

Conjunctive use of reclaimed water and groundwater in crop rotations

wle_admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 00:50:06 +0000

Authors

Al Khamisi, S. A.
Prathapar, Sanmugam A.
Ahmed, M.

Download

Accessibility

Limited Access

Date Available

June 13, 2014

Last Updated

June 13, 2014

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40247

Citation

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Impact of sedimentation on groundwater recharge at Sahalanowt Dam, Salalah, Oman. Technical note

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 23:40:56 +0000

Authors

Prathapar, Sanmugam A.
Bawain, A. A.

Download

Accessibility

Limited Access

Date Available

March 17, 2015

Last Updated

March 17, 2015

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/58378

Citation

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Groundwater Governance in the Arab World: Taking Stock and Addressing the Challenges

wle_admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 21:26:00 +0000

This project is aimed at addressing the challenges posed by the unsustainable use of groundwater in the MENA region. By collating knowledge on groundwater management experiences and translating them into science-policy dialogues, this project has produced a series of in-depth case studies and action plans on selected problem aquifers aiming to build the capacities of managers and decision makers, strengthen awareness on groundwater governance and contribute to finding solutions and mitigation measures to the groundwater crisis in the region.

Contact Person

Closas, Alvar and <a.closas@cgiar.org> and McCartney, Matthew <m.mccartney@cgiar.org>

Lead Center

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Partners

BAU - Beirut Arab University, ICBA - International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, INRGREF - Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts, IWMI - International Water Management Institute, LISODE - Lien social et décision, UoJ - University of Jordan

Completed

Start/End dateOctober 01, 2013 — April 30, 2017

Research ThemeVariability, Risks and Competing Uses

Cluster

4.2 Managing Competing Uses and Trade-offs

Countries

Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Tunisia