沙漠研究 24-1, 257-260 (2014)
Ἃ₍◊✲ 24-1, 257 - 260 (2014)
Journal of Arid Land Studies
Journal of Arid Land Studies－ DT11 Refereed Paper －㸫DT11 Refereed Paper㸫

Application of Water Harvesting System for Rehabilitation of Degraded Land
in Liyah in Northern Kuwait
Modi M. AHMED*1) and Ali M. AL-DOUSARI1)
Abstract: The main problem facing sustainable development in Kuwait is the acute shortage of water resources. Rainfall inKuwait is scarce and irregular with an annual average of about 110 mm. In order to combat rapid desertification, water-harvesting
techniques must be used. Rehabilitation of selected degraded playas in the Liyah area at northern Kuwait was accomplished using
water harvesting systems which involves the collection and storage of rainwater for productive use. Semicircular bundmicro-catchments were developed and were covered with palm leaves and stones. The soil was ploughed and mulched by plant
residues before planting. Inside each bund, native plants Lycium shawii were planted. Physical and chemical measurements werecarried out before and after rehabilitation. The infiltration rates were measured for a water column of 19 cm before treatment taken
more than 30 min, while after treatment it takes only 15 to 20 min. The average soil moisture before treatment was 1.5% butincreased to 3.5% after treatment. The dominant bulk density of the soil was 2.7% but three months after treatment it was reduced to2%. The penetration force before treatment was 273 psi, but after treatment it was reduced to 190 psi. The general improvement ofsoil quality (soil fertility, water content, porosity, content of organic matter) after using rehabilitation methods positively affected thegrowth of the planted thorny plant. In addition, the trapped sand accumulated on the bunds play a major role in flourishing the desert
flora due to richness of mineral and organic content.
Key Words: Micro-catchment, Playa, Semicircular bund

1. Introduction
The largest environmental issues for the 21st century areland degradation (Goudie et al., 1999). It is necessary to
study the degraded lands and implement practical solutions tocontrol the degradation. In Kuwait, sand encroachment overdeveloped facilities is a serious economic and social problem(Al-Awadhi et al., 2005). Human activities and irrational
exploitation of natural vegetation directly deteriorate thevegetation cover and accelerate expansion of degraded lands.
Inadequate water supply is a major problem faced byirrigated agriculture in many arid and semi-arid regions of theworld. Rainfall in Kuwait is scarce and irregular; the annual
rainfall in Kuwait ranges from 70 to 110 mm (Fig. 1). The
rainfall season is mainly from October to March. Whenrunoff is generated during heavy rainfall, the degraded andcompacted soil prevents the water from infiltrating the soil(Al-Dousari et al., 2006). Flash flood results when there isheavy and continuous rainfall (between 30-40 mm in onestorm). Flooding causes huge amount of soil loss, cutting theroads creating transport problems and other associatedsocio-economic problems.
Water conservation measures have not been widely

Fig. 1. Amount of rainfall in mm from 1957-2009 (Kuwait Airport).

applied in Kuwait. Therefore, it is necessary to recharge theground and surface water by rain. Water harvesting is theprocess of using and storing rainwater (Misak and Al-Awadhi,2001).
A key measure in this study is to test one method of water
harvesting called semicircular bund, which protects the soil
from water erosion and stores more rainwater in the soil.

2. Study Area

* Corresponding Author: mmahmed@kisr.edu.kw
Kuwait, B.O.Box:24885 Safat 13109
1) Desert Group, Coastal and Air Pollution Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

The pilot area is located in Liyah area, north of Jahra City
㸦Received, September 15th, 2013; Accepted, March 6th, 2014㸧258Fig. 2. Map of the study area with sampling sites (P1 to P5).

(Fig. 2). The area of focus is a degraded playa around 100 m2.
Playa is a depression in which rainwater collects. The soil isrich in sand (84.5%) and gravel (15%) with a lower amount ofmud (0.5%).

Fig. 3. Infiltration in the study area at five locations (p1, p2, p3, p4and p5) before treatment.

3. Methodology
Field investigations were carried out at five locations (p1,p2, p3, p4 and p5). Five to ten samples were collected fromthe degraded playa every six months for three years.
Infiltration tests, soil moisture, bulk density, porosity, pH, EC,penetration force along with the physical measurements ofLycium shawii were carried out before and after rehabilitation.
This plant is a desert thorny shrub, genus of flowering plants(Solanaceae family). It can reach a height from 90 cm to 1.5m, their leaves are small, fleshy, and alternately arranged. It
has red berry fleshy fruits. It is the dominant plant species in
Liyah area. It has high adaptation to degraded areas.
Moreover, it has the ability to form sandy mounds around plant
forming large nabkha. Therefore, it has high efficiency oftrapping sediment. Infiltration rate test is measured as thespeed of water entering the soil by using a double-ring
infiltrometer. Soil moisture is measured as the quantity ofwater restricted in a soil and it is calculated on dry basis.
Soil Moisture (%) = (dry oven weight - fresh weight) /dry weight × 100
The bulk density was measured by core method andporosity was calculated using the following equations.
%Bulk density = (dry oven weight) /ʌr h and … %Porosity= 1 - (Bulk density / Particle density(2.65))
The compressive soil strength was measured using a hand
penetrometer. The pH was measured in a saturated soil paste
by using a pH meter. EC was measured using an EC meter in
extract collected from the soil paste under vacuum after thetemperature of the extract was adjusted.
A treatment was introduced by making 50 semicircularbunds by ploughing the area and covering the bunds with palm
leaves and stones. The soil is covered with mulching materialFig. 4. Infiltration in the study area at five locations (p1, p2, p3, p4
and p5) after treatment.

(plant residues).

4. Results and Discussion
In this research, water harvesting techniques were applied
to selected artificial playa (100 m2). Physical and chemicalsoil tests were carried out before and after treatment todetermine the efficiency of the water-harvesting system. Themain physical measurements are infiltration test, soil moisture,bulk density, porosity and vegetative survey. The mainchemical tests are pH and electrical conductivity (EC). The
following results were observed after the application of thetreatment for 3 months:
࣭ Before ground treatment, a water column of 19 cm takes
more than 30 min to infiltrate, while after treatment; it takes
only 15 to 20 min. (Figs. 3 and 4).
࣭ The average infiltration capacity was 107.2 cm3/min in
un-treated soil and to 193.5 cm3/min in the treated soil incomparison with non-treated. The average difference involume of infiltrated water was 71% (Fig. 5).
࣭ The average soil moisture before treatment was 1.5% but
increased to 3.5% after treatment (Tables 1 and 2).
࣭ Before treatment, the dominant bulk density of the soil was

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Fig. 5. The % differences in volume of infiltrated water in the study
area at five locations (p1, p2, p3, p4 and p5) before and aftertreatment.
Table 1. Average Soil Characteristics Before Treatment.
PenetrationForce(psi)273

Depth(cm)
0

EC*

pH

S oilMoisture
(%)

7.7

(mS /cm)
2.4

20

7.7

3.1

1.3

40

7.7

3.1

1.8

60

7.7

3.2

1.9

BulkDensity(%)
2.7

1.3

Porosity(%)
0

Table 2. Average Soil Characteristics After Treatment.
(cm)
0Penetration
Force(psi)190

࣭ There was little noticeable variation of pH and EC
measurement (pH is basic and EC is less than 4 mS/cm).
These conditions are very suitable for growth of Lycium
shawii. These plants have ability to form large nabkha
thus playing important role in controlling sandencroachment.

5. Conclusions*EC: Electrical Conductivity

DepthFig. 6. The appearance of annual plant species around semi-circular
bund.

EC*pH

S oilMoisture(%)

BulkDensity(%)

2.3

27.6

(mS /cm)
2220
077.6.6

22.3.322.8.8440
077.6.6

22.7.733.7.7660
077.6.6

22.8.833.7.7

Porosity(%)

24.5*EC: Electrical Conductivity
Table 3. Average Physical Measurements of Lycium shawii.
Treatment

Length ofMain S tem
(cm)

No of
Branches

Length of
Large
Branches (cm)Length of
S hortBranches (cm)

Before
After

6195

320

4477

1935

2.7 gm/cm3 while after the treatment it was reduced to 2.
࣭ The penetration force before treatment was 273 psi, butafter treatment it has reduced to 190 psi.
࣭ Researchers observed increase presence of annual plant
species around semi-circular bunds.
࣭ Before treatment, the health of Lycium shawii, was ratherpoor.
After the treatment the plants health hassignificantly improved. The average stem length before
and after treatment were 61 cm and 95 cm, respectively.
The average number of branches before treatment was 3,
which was increased to 20 after treatment (Table 3).
࣭ The soil of the pilot area was slightly alkaline ranging
around 7.3-8 which indicates the presence CaCO3.
࣭ The electrical conductivity is low not exceeding more than4 mS/cm.

The study of playa area is very important because of theirgeological features and socio-economic impact. The playa
area is considered to be catchment’s area, therefore the water
infiltrates slowly giving chance for the plant to grow andexploit water.
The soil of the study area is hard and dry. It is covered bya sheet of gravel and coarse sand which acts as a seal
preventing and reducing the infiltration of rainwater. So, thesoil moisture is very low and the vegetation cover is very poor.
The soil is compacted with very low porosity causing therunoff of rain droplets rather than infiltration into the soil.
Under these severe environmental conditions, the area isaffected by a number of human interventions which caused
environmental degradation that damaged the natural resources
and micro land forms. The study area suffers from different
degrees of water erosion, a number of gullies and rills. Inaddition, soil crusting, sealing and compaction, deterioration of
the vegetation cover and loss of biodiversity are observable.
Applying water harvesting technique using thesemicircular bunds is very important to save and rehabilitate
the deteriorated area. This will protect the soil from erosionand enhance the storage of water in the soil. The main steps
of applications are building of semi-circular bund, ploughing
the soil, planting with drought resistant plant and using
environmentally friendly materials to cover soil and bunds.
This technique will improve the quality of the soil
characteristics in desert areas as follows:࣭ Soil fertility was increased through increasing the quantityof fine and very fine sand.

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࣭ The water content was increased thus providing plants
sufficient water to grow.
࣭ The content of organic matter was increased, thus affecting
soil moisture and the space between the soil grains.
࣭ The porosity of the soil was increased and allowed morewater to infiltrate into soil.
࣭ The penetration force was decreased and the loose soil
helped the plant root to spread easily.
࣭ The efficiency of catchment aeolian particles was increased.
It is recommended that control measures must have regular
maintenance for any damages. The cost of bund construction
is very low (about 0.5 KD per bund) and can be implemented
very fast, especially when the raw materials (plant residues) areavailable.

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