Volume 18, Issue 1, October 2016, Pages 90–96
Thouraya Lahmar1, Rajouene Majdoub2, Youssef M'Sadak3, and Fateh Aljane4
1 Département du Génie des Systèmes Horticoles et du Milieu Naturel, Université de Sousse, Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia
2 Department of Horticultural Engineering Systems and Natural Environment, University of Sousse, High Institute of Agronomy of Chott Meriem, Chott Meriem, Sousse, Tunisia
3 Department of the Genius of the Horticultural Systems and the Natural Environment, Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, University of Sousse, Tunisia
4 Arid and Oasis Cropping Laboratory, Arid Land Institute (IRA), Medenine, Tunisia
Original language: English
Copyright © 2016 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The arid climate characterizing the South-Eastern part of Tunisia and the alarming water consumption rate that continues to increase are the main environmental problems affecting Matmata mountain chain. To face these challenges, authorities are promoting water and soil conservation techniques that contribute tremendously in a sustainable agriculture. This study presents a technical diagnosis of the current state of Jessours, that are considered as traditional anti-erosion structures and are implemented on the Matmata mountain chain, particularly in the region of Beni Kheddache located North-West of Medenine. In this context, data collection was conducted the spring of 2008 in around 50 Jessours, situated in three ravines (Chaaba Ksar Beni Kheddache 1, Chaaba Ksar Beni Kheddache 2 and Chaaba El Mechref). This diagnosis helps in understanding more clearly the way Jessours system functions, how runoff is collected and in assessing the landscape integration of these structures. This study shows how the majorities of farmers are conscious of the benefits of Jessours and are actively following the appropriate practices of an efficient utilization. However, the collected data indicates that a good number of Jessours lack proper maintenance. In fact, investigations point out that although, 62% of visited Jessours are in a good condition, a worrying percentage of them, around 16%, are in bad condition. Whilst, 22% of visited Jessours are in average condition. Thus, to improve the capacity of rainfall collection of the Jessours system and to ensure a good degree of landscape integration, it is necessary to rehabilitate the neglected Jessours.
Author Keywords: Jessours, arid climate, water collection, Mountains Landscape, Matmata.
Thouraya Lahmar1, Rajouene Majdoub2, Youssef M'Sadak3, and Fateh Aljane4
1 Département du Génie des Systèmes Horticoles et du Milieu Naturel, Université de Sousse, Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia
2 Department of Horticultural Engineering Systems and Natural Environment, University of Sousse, High Institute of Agronomy of Chott Meriem, Chott Meriem, Sousse, Tunisia
3 Department of the Genius of the Horticultural Systems and the Natural Environment, Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, University of Sousse, Tunisia
4 Arid and Oasis Cropping Laboratory, Arid Land Institute (IRA), Medenine, Tunisia
Original language: English
Copyright © 2016 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The arid climate characterizing the South-Eastern part of Tunisia and the alarming water consumption rate that continues to increase are the main environmental problems affecting Matmata mountain chain. To face these challenges, authorities are promoting water and soil conservation techniques that contribute tremendously in a sustainable agriculture. This study presents a technical diagnosis of the current state of Jessours, that are considered as traditional anti-erosion structures and are implemented on the Matmata mountain chain, particularly in the region of Beni Kheddache located North-West of Medenine. In this context, data collection was conducted the spring of 2008 in around 50 Jessours, situated in three ravines (Chaaba Ksar Beni Kheddache 1, Chaaba Ksar Beni Kheddache 2 and Chaaba El Mechref). This diagnosis helps in understanding more clearly the way Jessours system functions, how runoff is collected and in assessing the landscape integration of these structures. This study shows how the majorities of farmers are conscious of the benefits of Jessours and are actively following the appropriate practices of an efficient utilization. However, the collected data indicates that a good number of Jessours lack proper maintenance. In fact, investigations point out that although, 62% of visited Jessours are in a good condition, a worrying percentage of them, around 16%, are in bad condition. Whilst, 22% of visited Jessours are in average condition. Thus, to improve the capacity of rainfall collection of the Jessours system and to ensure a good degree of landscape integration, it is necessary to rehabilitate the neglected Jessours.
Author Keywords: Jessours, arid climate, water collection, Mountains Landscape, Matmata.
How to Cite this Article
Thouraya Lahmar, Rajouene Majdoub, Youssef M'Sadak, and Fateh Aljane, “Diagnosis of the state of Jessours in the Matmata mountain chain (South-Eastern of Tunisia) and their landscape integration,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 90–96, October 2016.
