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Author Timsina, J.; Weerahewa, J. url  openurl
  Title Restoring ancient irrigation systems for sustainable agro-ecosystems development: Reflections on the special issue Type Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication Agricultural Systems Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 209 Issue (up) Pages 103668  
  Keywords Ancient irrigation systems, Degradation, Sustainability, Sri Lanka  
  Abstract Humans have relied on agriculture to feed their communities for thousands of years. Irrigation is practiced in many different forms over the years in countries all over the world. Although modern irrigation systems have been developed, and are in use in many countries, ancient irrigation systems (AISs) have also played a major role in sustaining food production, especially in smallholder farming in least developed and developing countries. The editorial team of Agricultural Systems put out a call for a special issue on restoring AISs for sustainable agro-ecosystems development to capture ancient marvels of traditional irrigation technology across the world. The objectives of this special issue were to: (i) understand and analyse the hydrological and socio-economic networks anchored by AISs; (ii) explain the nature and sustainability of management of these systems in relation to local agro-ecosystems; (iii) analyse the implications of the AISs for land, soil and water quality, and agro-ecosystem services; (iv) qualitative and quantitative analysis of AISs, including bio-physical and bio-economic modelling of these systems; and (v) assess the feasibility of alternative technological, institutional and management strategies to enhance the productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability of the systems. The overall goal of the special issue was to develop a useful repository for this information as well as to use the journal’s international reach to share this information with the agricultural systems research community and journal readership. This paper provides reflections of papers published in the special issue. The special issue resulted in twelve high quality original research articles and one review article from Asia, Africa and Europe. The findings from various papers revealed that the AISs have been degraded due to human interventions or the anthropogenic activities across the world. Various papers emphasized that as a corrective measure, there is a need for developing and implementing rehabilitation projects in these systems. Authors identified that appropriate policy interventions by the relevant authorities would be a major step towards such rehabilitation process. However, resetting the ecosystem structure of the AISs strictly towards their historical manifestation is neither required nor feasible in the present context as it would contradict the expectations of stakeholders from these systems. The knowledge generated through the special issue provides evidence-based information on various aspects of AISs. It helps aware governments, private sectors and development agencies for improved policy planning and decision making and for prioritizing the restoration, rehabilitation, and management of various AISs around the world.  
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  ISSN 0308-521x ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Timsina2023103668 Serial 255  
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Author Hayes-Rich, E.; Levy, J.; Hayes-Rich, N.; Lightfoot, D.; Gauthier, Y. url  openurl
  Title Searching for hidden waters: The effectiveness of remote sensing in assessing the distribution and status of a traditional, earthen irrigation system (khettara) in Morocco Type Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 51 Issue (up) Pages 104175  
  Keywords Remote sensing, Satellite imagery, , Morocco, Traditional irrigation, Archaeology, Water management  
  Abstract This paper presents the results of a multi-year, interdisciplinary project that aimed to assess the holistic status of the khettara system in Morocco. The khettara (also known as qanat) is a traditional, earthen water management system. Historically the system was used for settlement in regions without access to reliable surface water. It is both a world and local heritage structure, found in rural and urban regions throughout 46 countries. Recent evaluations of this traditional system have advocated for its preservation and use in arid and semi-arid regions, as modern technologies (pump wells, industrial dams, drip irrigation, etc.) have proven to be unsustainable. This project evaluates remote sensing as a tool for assessing the distribution and status of the khettara in Morocco. The results of this project demonstrate that (1) the khettara system played a large role in the historic settlement of arid and semi-arid regions, and (2) the system continues to be an important part of agriculture and life in many oases across Morocco.  
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  ISSN 2352-409x ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Hayesrich2023104175 Serial 256  
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Author Remmington, G. url  openurl
  Title Transforming tradition: The aflaj and changing role of traditional knowledge systems for collective water management Type Journal Article
  Year 2018 Publication Journal of Arid Environments Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 151 Issue (up) Pages 134-140  
  Keywords Collective action, Subterranean tunnel-wells, , Traditional knowledge, Hydraulic heritage  
  Abstract Living in a harsh, desert climate, Omani rural communities have developed locally-appropriate knowledge to deal with water scarcity. Similar to the qanat, the aflaj taps into the natural water table and uses a gravity system to channel water through underground channels to villages. Traditional techniques of water management, such as the aflaj, represents a way of adapting to and coping with difficult climates which have persisted for millennia. However, knowledge systems have often ‘decayed’ with the onset of modernity. These management systems, which developed concurrently with early Omani date palm cultivation, have defined customary and hereditary water rights which are in decline. This article uses Ostrom’s Common Pool Resource (CPR) framework, which prioritises the collective management of shared resources to maximise the benefit for all involved and avoid diminishing benefits that are created by the pursuit of individual goals. Using this framework, this article’s evaluation of the literature found that traditional aflaj management systems have a great capacity to evolve and, therefore, the aflaj represents both a dying system, and a potential for climate adaptation. Historically, aflaj have been managed by ancient water users associations, which provide social controls and govern usage norms. The findings of this review are that the aflaj system’s ability to respond to pressures of modernity from competing institutions, including markets, and embedded social capital mechanisms will influence its capacity to mitigate uncertain hydrology and climate. This article suggests ways in which the management of the aflaj can adapt to a multiple institutional framework to ‘transform’ collective water management.  
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  ISSN 0140-1963 ISBN Medium  
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  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Remmington2018134 Serial 258  
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Author Kamash, Z. url  openurl
  Title Irrigation technology, society and environment in the Roman Near East Type Journal Article
  Year 2012 Publication Journal of Arid Environments Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 86 Issue (up) Pages 65-74  
  Keywords Army, Urbanism, Qanats, Dams, Field systems, Irrigation channels  
  Abstract This paper uses a multi-faceted approach to understand the use and distribution of different irrigation technologies in the Roman Near East (63 BC – AD 636), looking at the ways in which social and environmental factors affected the implementation of those irrigation technologies. It is argued that no single factor can fully explain how irrigation technologies were used across time and space in this region. Instead, choices in irrigation technology seem to have been governed by a complex nexus of both social and environmental factors.  
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  ISSN 0140-1963 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Ancient Agriculture in the Middle East Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Kamash201265 Serial 259  
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Author Sedghi, M.M.; Zhan, H. url  openurl
  Title Semi-analytical solutions of discharge variation of a qanat in an unconfined aquifer subjected to general areal recharge and nearby pumping well discharge Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Journal of Hydrology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 584 Issue (up) Pages 124691  
  Keywords Analytical solution, Laplace domain, Screen segmentation, Qanat, Areal recharge, Constant head  
  Abstract Qanat is a type of drain that extract water from aquifers by gravity. Significant amount of fresh water used in Middle East and other parts of the world are supplied by qanats. Despite their importance, discharge variation of these type of wells received almost no attention. The aim of this research is to obtain a Laplace domain solution of discharge variation of a qanat installed in an anisotropic unconfined aquifer subjected to arbitrary areal recharge and nearby pumping well(s) discharge. A new semi-analytical solution of drawdown is obtained first to implement the effects of arbitrary areal recharge and nearby pumping well(s) using the principle of superposition. Then, the discharge variation solution of the qanat is obtained from the drawdown solution. To establish a constant-head boundary condition at the qanat periphery, the qanat is discretized into several segments. The results of this study are presented in dimensionless discharge-dimensionless time curves. The effects of hydraulic as well as geometric parameters on the discharge variation of the qanat due to arbitrary areal recharge, falling of water table from its initial position and discharge of nearby wells are explored. We also investigate the influences of distance and screen depth and location of the nearby well on the discharge variation of the qanat. The results of this study can be utilized for multiple purposes: 1) to predict discharge of qanat in response to rainfall and nearby pumping well(s); 2) to estimate the aquifer parameters using hydrograph of the qanat; 3) to determine optimal location and pumping pattern of the nearby wells to minimize their influences on the discharge of the qanat; 4) to calculate water budget of aquifers drained by a qanat. The equation presented in this work can also be used to estimate discharge of a horizontal drain installed in cropland subjected to arbitrary irrigation pattern.  
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  ISSN 0022-1694 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Sedghi2020124691 Serial 261  
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