2025/01/01 by Amirouche, M., Smadhi, D., Degui, N.
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Climate change impacts on agriculture #CropWat #Irrigation Practices and Water Management #Potato Plant Research #article #climate #irrigation #potatoes #water deficit
paper · doi:10.15159/ar.25.100
openalex publication_date 2025/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/11/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
Water scarcity is a major problem in Algeria. This shortage is set to worsen in the coming years as a result of both climate change and the growth in socio-economic activities, leading to an increasing demand for water. Market gardening, in particular potato cultivation - the second most important crop after cereals - is booming throughout the country, year-round. The aim of this study is to assess the water productivity of strategic potato crops in the regions of Algiers, Tiaret and El Oued, which have temperate, semi-arid and desert climates, respectively. The approach is based on calculating the water requirements of the potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.), using the CropWat model (V 8.0) and the yields recorded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, over a 23-year study period (2000–2022). The results obtained showed that the values of irrigation water requirements for potato cultivation in the three regions studied are 542.3 mm, 452.7 mm and 712.5 mm, respectively. On the other hand, the water productivity figures are around 6.1, 5.8 and 4.2 kg m-3. This analysis could be further used by irrigation system managers and potato growers, to help them use water resources efficiently.