沙漠研究 24-1, 9-12 (2014)
Ἃ₍◊✲ 24-1, 9 - 12 (2014)
Journal of Arid Land Studies
Journal of Arid Land Studies－ DT11 Refereed Paper －㸫DT11 Refereed Paper㸫

Threats to Agriculture Lands at Al-Wafra, Southern Part of Kuwait
Raafat MISAK*1), Hamdy El GAMILY1), 2) and Wafaa HUSSAIN3)
Abstract: The Al-Wafra agricultural area is located at the southern fringes of Kuwait, close to the Saudi Arabia border with anapproximate land area of 17,000 hectares. Since 2006, this area faced several environmental impacts in terms of water logging andsoil salinization. The soil degradation, depletion of crop yields and loss of productive lands is mainly due to misuse of brackish
groundwater. Some 600 large diameter flowing wells with minimum discharge of 30 m3/hour were developed in the area tapping theDammam Formation. The water flowed without any control with salinity ranging from 5000 to 7000 mg/l. Drainage systems were
not developed and the water accumulated in low lying farms forming water ponds. Due to high temperatures and evaporation insummer, the soils were highly salinized and cultivation abilities were nearly demolished. In 2009 and 2010, about 72% of theflowing wells were controlled by governmental organizations. Consequently, water ponds disappeared and soils were dried up.
The main objectives of this study are to: 1) assess the magnitude of soil salinization in representative farms at Al-Wafra area; and 2)
propose economically feasible and environmentally sound solutions to overcome the problem. The following field, laboratory anddesk investigations were conducted: 1) assessment of the problem through field and remote sensing measurements; 2) examinations ofsix representative soil profiles; and 3) collecting and analyzing of 36 soil samples. Also, Google Earth images dated 2008 and 2011were used to monitor affected sites. Finally, scientific solutions such as mixing saline soils with clean sands and soil washing wereproposed and evaluated.
Key Words: Dammam formation, Flowing wells, Google Earth, Soil salinization, Water logging

1. Introduction
As stated by the Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs &Fish Resources (2006), soil salinization caused byinappropriate irrigation practices affects 60 Mha, whichrepresent about 24% of all irrigated land worldwide. InAfrica, salinization accounts for 50% of irrigated land.
Increasing soil salinization is also noticed in India, Pakistan,
China, and Central Asia. In Egypt, 35% of the agriculturalland suffers from soil salinity. In Kuwait, agricultural areas
cover about 2.5% of the country (KISR, 1999) and are
geographically distributed in three main areas (Fig 1). to
include: Abdaly (northern part), Kabd (central part) andAl-Wafra (southern part).
Al-Wafra Agricultural Area (about 17,000 hectares) is
located at the southern fringes of Kuwait, close to the Kuwait Saudi Arabia border. The ground elevation of this area ranges
between 33 m above sea level (northeastern side) and 117 m
above sea level (southwestern side). This area supplies
Kuwait with a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. The soilof Al-Wafra Agricultural Area is dominated by deep sands,
which are underlain by a gatch bed (impervious zone) atshallow depths rarely exceeding 2 m (KISR, 1999). The
groundwater (main irrigation source before using treated waste

Fig. 1. Satellite image of Kuwait from 2010 showing the location ofagriculture areas (Abdaly, Kabd and Al-Wafra).

water) was exploited from two aquifers. An upper aquifer
consists of sands and gravel (Kuwait Group) and a deeper
fractured limestone aquifer (Dammam Formation).
The total salinity of the groundwater of Kuwait Group
ranges from 4,000 to 9,000 ppm, while that of Dammam
Formation varies from 3000 to 6000 ppm (Ministry ofElectricity and Water, 2011 statistical year book).
As stated in the Water profile of Kuwait (2007), only㸦Received, September 16th, 2013; Accepted, March 12th, 2014㸧

* Corresponding Author: rmisak@kisr.edu.kw
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait, B.O.Box:24885 Safat 13109
1) Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait2) National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), Egypt

3) Manspura University, Egypt

10Al-Wafra farmers are allowed to withdraw water from theKuwait Group Aquifer (4000-9000 ppm). The water used forlivestock purposes is pumped by Ministry of Electricity andWater (MEW) from the Dammam fractured limestone aquiferthrough deep artesian wells (3000-600 ppm). However,farmers illegally drilled about 600 deep artesian wells during
the last 15 years so there is no control for water discharge of allartesian wells. Considering the average discharge for anartesian well of 30 m3/hour (720 m3/day), the total discharge ofthe 600 wells will be 432,000 m3/day (157,680,000 m3/year).
In 2006, about 45% of the agricultural land was devoted tovegetable production, mainly tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers
and sweet peppers, and 19% used to cultivate cereals, mainlybarley and wheat. Date palm trees are the most important
fruit trees grown, which occupy about 20 percent of thecultivated land. The remaining crops grown are potatoes andother annual and permanent crops. In 2003, agricultural
production included 207,000 tons of vegetables, 18,000 tons offruits and about 3,300 tons of cereals (Public Authority ofAgriculture Affairs & Fish Resources, PAAFR, 2006).

2. Materials and Methods
In the present study, the following field, laboratory anddesk investigations were conducted: 1) assessment of theproblem through field and remote sensing measurements forthe spatial and vertical extent of saline soils; 2) examinations of
six representative soil profiles in both affected and non-affectedfarms; and 3) collection of 36 soil samples for physical andchemical analyses.
In addition, a pilot site (about 2 km2) was monitored andmapped using high resolution Google Earth images of 2008
(before controlling flowing wells), and 2011 (after controlling
flowing wells). The Arcgis software was used to georefrence
the satellite images into real world coordinates (Lat/Long) Wgs
84 of the two dates. Also, the contrast stretch was used toenhance the images to be more suitable for visual interpretationand extraction of the needed features. Then, the ArcCatalog
was used to create the water ponds and wet lands GIS layer.
The ArcMap was then utilized to digitize the water ponds andwet lands. Finally, the attribute data were entered after
digitizing the needed features. The topology was run toconvert the extracted layers into a GIS ready map.

3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Soil salinization problem
Impervious layers exist at various depths (50-200 cm) ofthe Al-Wafra Agricultural Area creating water logging in someareas. In 1994, this was estimated at 2,840 ha (Water profileof Kuwait, 2007). Due to misuse of flowing ground water
after 1994, areas affected by water logging and soil salinization
are expected to be at least two times that of 1994, i.e. 5,600 ha.
Since 1995, the Al-Wafra Agricultural Area has faced
several environmental hazards, the most significant of which iswater logging and soil salinization. This phenomenon that
resulted in soil degradation, depletion of crop yields and loss ofproductive lands is caused by misuse of brackish groundwater.
Some 600 large diameter flowing wells were developed by
non-professional private drilling companies in several farms atAl-Wafra Agricultural Area. These wells tap the Dammam
Formation (fractured limestone aquifer). The water fromthese wells (salinity varies between 3000-6000 ppm)
previously flowed without any control on recharge. Drainage
systems were not developed at any level (farm or area levels).
So, the water accumulated in low lying farms forming water
ponds of different depths and sizes. After time and as a resultof high temperatures (exceeding 40ºC in summer) andevaporation (close to 3000 mm/year), the soils were highly
salinized and cultivation on affected farms was completelydemolished.
Several farms were completely flooded with water and
now are abandoned. Some other farms were partiallyaffected depending on their location and ground elevation
relative to flowing wells in the surrounding farms. The
general geomorphology of the area, where hollows (locallycalled khabrat) and low ridges alternate, accelerates theseepage of water towards low lying areas. The hollows act asdischarging areas for flowing water.
Examination of 6 soil profiles indicates that the EC of thesoils of one of the unaffected farm ranges between 0.104 to0.347 mS/cm. For one of the effected farms, the EC of 0-60
cm interval ranges between 0.784 to 0.986 mS/cm, while from
60-100 cm interval the EC ranges between 14.82 to 15.17mS/cm.
3.2. Managing soil salinization
In the last few years (2010/2011), the Kuwaiti Government
represented by the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW)
and the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources(PAAFR) were concerned about soil salinization and water
logging in the Al-Wafra Agricultural Area. Some effective
measures were taken to control the problem. These measures
include blocking (closing) almost all of the flowing wells.
However, no measures were adopted for therestoration/remediation of affected soils. Controlling thedischarge of water from flowing wells was the most significant
step for managing soil salinity problems. The multi-benefitsof this measure include:͌ Controlling additional damage to soils, cultivations and11Fig. 2. Images of 2008 and 2011 for a pilot site in Al-Wafra Agricultural area showing the changes in the size of water ponds and wet lands before
and after controlling the discharge of flowing wells.

Fig. 3. Google images of 2008 and 2011 showing the difference in size of a water pond before and after controlling the discharge of flowing well.

Fig. 4. Field photos for a farm before and after controlling thedischarge of flowing wells.

infrastructures such as roads and fences.
͌ Preservation of the loss of artesian pressure of the aquifer(Dammam Fractured Limestone).
͌ Controlling additional loss of groundwater.

͌ Encouraging the implementation of successful soil
treatment plans.
In 2008 (before controlling the discharge of flowing wells),
the areal extent of water ponds and wet lands in a pilot site was
56,748.2 m2 and 532,416.1 m2 respectively. While in 2011
(after controlling the discharge of flowing wells), the areal
extent of the water ponds was 16,036.3 m2 (72% decrease) andwet land was 186,332.6 m2 (65% decrease). Figures 2 - 4
show the changes in the size of water ponds and wet lands in2008 and 2011.
3.3. Cost of land degradation control (Case of saline soilsof Al-Wafra agricultural area)
The cost of rehabilitation/reclamation of saline soils
through mixing with clean fine sands is KD 0.65 (2US $)/m2
making it an unsustainable approach. The following items

12

͌

͌
͌

Fig. 5. Saline soil before (2006) and after reclamation (2010).

should be considered in cost estimates of land degradation
control of Al-Wafra Agricultural Area:
͌ Cost of exploited groundwater during 1995-2010.
͌ Cost of controlling the discharge of flowing wells: KD
600,000 (2,100,000 US$).
͌ Cost of rainwater losses due to deterioration of its quality
by falling on saline soils.
͌ Cost of control of shallow groundwater pollution.
͌ Cost of drainage systems.
͌ Cost of the loss of Ecosystem services.
͌ Cost of the loss of agricultural production.

4. Conclusion and Recommendations
Soil salinity in the Al-Wafra Agricultural Area (irrigationsalinity) developed in the last 15 years as a direct result of
misuse of brackish groundwater of Al Dammam Formation(fractured limestone aquifer with TDS ranging from 3000 to6000 ppm). At the beginning of the problem in mid nineties,
the number of flowing wells was several tens increasing overtime to about 600 wells in 2010. The ground water wasflowing on the ground from 1995 to 2010 without any control
on its discharge. As a result, the water percolated into sandy
soils (till saturation). After soil saturation, huge amounts(millions of cubic meters) remain on the surface constituting
saline wetlands and water ponds. Salinity levels in a numberof salt affected farms in Al-Wafra Agricultural Area havereached a point where the long-term productivity is threatened(EC exceeds 15 mS/cm).
Managing irrigation salinity in Al-Wafra Agricultural Area
is essential for the sustainability of agricultural production andfor land degradation control.
The main strategy forcontrolling irrigation salinity in Al-Wafra Agricultural Areashould rely on the following:͌ Conducting regular monitoring for soil salinity (fourtimes/year) in representative salt affected farms in Al-Wafra

͌͌

͌
͌͌

area.
Implementing efficient water-use programs coupled withgood irrigated farming practices and effective surface
drainage.
Establishing and maintaining Eucalyptus trees (forbiological drainage) around drains and in discharging areas.
Implementing drainage systems (80 - 100 cm depth) toreduce the water table below the root zone minimize theupward movement of salts and in turn allow salt-affected
land to be brought back into production.
Developing agro-hydro-salinity models to help calculate
the extent and severity of the irrigation salinity in affected
farms.
Using manure and crop residues to provide additionalorganic matter to the soil (to reduce evaporation, improvewater infiltration, water holding capacity and tilth of thesoil).
Establishing forage buffer strips (3 to 5 m wide) on bothsides of drains to minimize of soil salinity.
Selecting crop varieties and forage plants that have agreater tolerance to salt such as Alpla Alpha and Artiplex
spp (to reduce evaporation and maximize soil water use).
Avoiding deep tillage in moderately to slightly affected
farms (as it brings salts up to soil surface). Zero tillage
should be considered for severely salt affected farms.

Acknowledgement
The authors express their thanks to Eng. Ahmad Othman(GIS Section, KISR) for his help in maintaining the figures ofthis paper.

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