The Emergence of Irrigated Agriculture in Semi-Arid Zones in the Face of Climate Change and Urbanization in Peri-Urban Areas in Setif, Algeria

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the complex relationship between a local population and its natural and urban environment. The study area, which was previously dominated by cereal cultivation, is currently facing profitability challenges due to climate change, water scarcity, rapid urban expansion, and the overexploitation of aquifers, influenced by changes in agricultural practices, which are disrupting the local ecosystem. This study relies on three interconnected indicators, population growth, climate change effects on agriculture, and the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), and reveals the impact of these factors on agricultural practices. Google Earth Engine was employed to determine the urbanization and greenness indices using scripts. The significant findings of this study demonstrate the remarkable demographic growth of 49.96% during the study period (2000–2020). Furthermore, this growth has led to a new trend towards intensive farming, with a substantial increase in irrigated lands by 44.19% and a multiplication of protected crop lands by 20 times, rising from 19.88 to 405.89 hectares. Additionally, horticultural production surged by 212.4% during the same period. Moreover, groundwater levels shifted from less than 50 m in the northern regions to less than 150 and 300 m in the southern part of the study area. The water potential in the study zone cannot meet the demands of the new agricultural orientation, which tends to deplete local groundwater, potentially causing recurrent shortages of agricultural products. This study underscores the importance of incorporating agricultural production into future urban planning and development programs to maintain a renewed balance between built environments and agriculture in peri-urban areas.

Integrated Decision-Making of Urban Agriculture within the Greyfield Regeneration Environments (UAGR)

“…Methodologically, Google Earth Engine was usually employed to investigate the intertwined impacts of urbanization and land cover change on urban climate and agriculture by determining the urbanization and greenness indices using scripts [18]. Lahcene uses three interconnected indicators, population growth, climate change effects on agriculture, and the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), and reveals the impact of these factors on agricultural practices [19].…”

“…While still gaining traction, there is a growing acknowledgment of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) as crucial for both climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts [29]. In this regard, UPA is recognized as a resilient agro-urban system, yet agricultural practices can disrupt the local ecosystem, emphasizing the need for balanced development between built environments and agriculture in peri-urban areas [19].…”

The Impact of Food Waste Compost, Vermicompost, and Chemical Fertilizers on the Growth Measurement of Red Radish (Raphanus sativus): A Sustainability Perspective in the United Arab Emirates

“…Managing food waste, producing sufficient food, and implementing sustainable agriculture are all areas that need to be addressed to accommodate our growing population, particularly in desert countries with limited resources [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Consequently, the current research highlights the significance of utilizing food waste, including that of vegetables, fruits, meat, rice, and bread, as organic fertilizers in two hypotheses: an earthworm-based method and a thermophilic machine.…”