118
Egypt, Cairo has the highest population, wheat consumption and wheat gap.
Whereas, in Middle and Upper Egypt, Giza and Sohag have the highest population,
wheat consumption and wheat gap, respectively. Table 6.3 also showed that in bordered governorate, North Sinai has the highest population, wheat consumption and
wheat gap. Self-sufficiency ratio under this case was 43%.
It worth noting that Behira governorate has the lowest wheat gap and New Valley
has surplus in wheat production. The total population was 95,203 million inhabitants, consumed 19,421 million tons of wheat, and wheat production-consumption
gap was 11,007 million tons.
6.3.1 Cultivation on Raised Beds
It was documented in previous research in Egypt that raised beds cultivation for
wheat can save 20–30% of the applied irrigation water and it can increase yield by
15–22% (Abouelenin et al. 2010; Karrou et al. 2012; Khalil and Abouelenin 2012;
Zohry et al. 2019). We assumed that raised beds cultivation will save 20% of the
applied irrigation water in the old lands and no water saving will occur in the new
lands. In addition, wheat productivity will increase by 15% in the old lands only.
Table 6.4 indicated that 1346.8 billion cubic meters of water could be saved as a
result of cultivation of wheat on raised beds. This amount of water could be used to
cultivate 263.9 thousand hectares, when added to the total wheat area it will reach
1481.2 million hectares. These cultivated areas (old, new and added cultivated area)
will produced 11,124.9 million tons of wheat and reduce wheat productionconsumption gap to 8296.4 million ton, which could increase self-sufficiency ratio
to 57%. Furthermore, it can be notice from the table that several governorates can
attain self-sufficiency in addition to surplus in wheat production. These governorates
were Behira and Kafr El-Sheik in Lower Egypt, in addition to New Valley in
Upper Egypt.
6.3.2 Application of Deficit Irrigation
From previous research conducted in Egypt on application of deficit irrigation to
wheat, we assumed that, in the old land, saving 10% of the applied water will result
in 5% yield losses. Similarly, in the new lands, saving 5% of the applied water will
result in 5% yield losses.
Table 6.5 indicated that 665.0 million cubic meters of water could be saved as a
result of application of deficit irrigation to wheat cultivated on raised beds. This
amount of water could be used to cultivate 134.1 thousand hectares, when added to
the total wheat area it will reach 1615.4 million hectares. These cultivated areas
(old, new and added cultivated area) will produced 11,894.4 million tons of wheat
and reduce wheat production-consumption gap to 7526.9 million ton, in which selfA. E.-H. Zohry and S. Ouda
Egypt, Cairo has the highest population, wheat consumption and wheat gap.
Whereas, in Middle and Upper Egypt, Giza and Sohag have the highest population,
wheat consumption and wheat gap, respectively. Table 6.3 also showed that in bordered governorate, North Sinai has the highest population, wheat consumption and
wheat gap. Self-sufficiency ratio under this case was 43%.
It worth noting that Behira governorate has the lowest wheat gap and New Valley
has surplus in wheat production. The total population was 95,203 million inhabitants, consumed 19,421 million tons of wheat, and wheat production-consumption
gap was 11,007 million tons.
6.3.1 Cultivation on Raised Beds
It was documented in previous research in Egypt that raised beds cultivation for
wheat can save 20–30% of the applied irrigation water and it can increase yield by
15–22% (Abouelenin et al. 2010; Karrou et al. 2012; Khalil and Abouelenin 2012;
Zohry et al. 2019). We assumed that raised beds cultivation will save 20% of the
applied irrigation water in the old lands and no water saving will occur in the new
lands. In addition, wheat productivity will increase by 15% in the old lands only.
Table 6.4 indicated that 1346.8 billion cubic meters of water could be saved as a
result of cultivation of wheat on raised beds. This amount of water could be used to
cultivate 263.9 thousand hectares, when added to the total wheat area it will reach
1481.2 million hectares. These cultivated areas (old, new and added cultivated area)
will produced 11,124.9 million tons of wheat and reduce wheat productionconsumption gap to 8296.4 million ton, which could increase self-sufficiency ratio
to 57%. Furthermore, it can be notice from the table that several governorates can
attain self-sufficiency in addition to surplus in wheat production. These governorates
were Behira and Kafr El-Sheik in Lower Egypt, in addition to New Valley in
Upper Egypt.
6.3.2 Application of Deficit Irrigation
From previous research conducted in Egypt on application of deficit irrigation to
wheat, we assumed that, in the old land, saving 10% of the applied water will result
in 5% yield losses. Similarly, in the new lands, saving 5% of the applied water will
result in 5% yield losses.
Table 6.5 indicated that 665.0 million cubic meters of water could be saved as a
result of application of deficit irrigation to wheat cultivated on raised beds. This
amount of water could be used to cultivate 134.1 thousand hectares, when added to
the total wheat area it will reach 1615.4 million hectares. These cultivated areas
(old, new and added cultivated area) will produced 11,894.4 million tons of wheat
and reduce wheat production-consumption gap to 7526.9 million ton, in which selfA. E.-H. Zohry and S. Ouda