Assessing the Influence of Flow Variability on Irrigated Agriculture in the Central Gharb Plain, Morocco

Abstract

The lower main watercourse of the Sebou Basin in Mechra-Bel-Ksiri is experiencing adverse effects attributed to climate change, notably drought and rising temperatures. In this study, we evaluated the impact of these changes on the irrigation zone using a comprehensive methodology involving break, trend, and low-water analyses. Our assessment, incorporating Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC) considerations, reveals detrimental effects on the expansion of irrigated agriculture along the Sebou wadi and its Baht tributary. Consequently, farmers are compelled to tap into underground water sources to fulfill irrigation needs for their farms. This research sheds light on the pressing challenges posed by climate change in the region and the consequent adjustments farmers are forced to make in their water sourcing practices. Keywords: Flow variability; break; trend; low water; land use land cover.