Enhancement of infiltration rate of clogged porous beds in the vicinity of dams in arid zones by the roots of indigenous Ziziphus spina‐christ trees

• Published in: Hydrological processes 2020-10, Vol.34 (22), p.4226-4238
• Main Authors: Al‐Maktoumi, Ali, Kacimov, Anvar, Al‐Busaidi, Hamed, Al‐Ismaily, Said, Al‐Mayahi, Ahmed, Al‐Khanbashi, Salim, Al‐Sulaimi, Abdulla
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquifers; Arid climates; Arid regions; Arid zones; Christ's thorn tree; Climate; Cultivation; Dams; Deep percolation; Evaporation; Evaporation rate; hydro‐ecoengineering; Infiltration; Infiltration rate; infiltrometer rings Oman; Loam soils; Percolation; Plant growth; Recharge; Recharge dams; Roots; Sediment; Sedimentation tanks; Sediments; Silt loam; Siltation; siltation‐colmation; Soil; Soil dynamics; Soil moisture; Soils; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Storage capacity; Storage conditions; Tanks; Trees; Unconfined aquifers; Water loss; Water storage; Ziziphus
• ISSN: 0885-6087; 1099-1085
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.13876

Siltation of reservoir beds of recharge dams in arid climates seriously diminishes dams' storage capacity, lessens infiltration and deep percolation rates, increases water loss via evaporation, and ultimately lowers the recharge efficiency to the underlying unconfined aquifer. This study explores possibilities for enhancing the infiltration rate of a silt‐clogged recharge‐dam bed by cultivation of the Christ's thorn tree (Ziziphus spina‐christ), locally known as Sidr, as a hydro‐ecoengineering technique. We experimentally quantified the effect of this indigenous tree on the infiltration rates and moisture dynamics in soil tanks and pots. Descriptive statistics and a two‐way‐repeated‐measures analysis at p