298
H. Elbasiouny and F. Elbehiry
fertilization management, cultivation methods, developing new rice cultivars, and
utilizing of interesting materials such as biochar and rice straw [14].
3 Rice Production in Egypt
Only about 4% of Egypt’s total area is agricultural land. This area includes one of the
heaviest population densities worldwide. The remaining 96% of Egypt’s land area is
arid desert [15]. Egypt is the largest producer of rice in the Near East region, as well it
has the most productive rice farms worldwide with an average yield of 9 × 5 ton ha
−1
based on 2012 data. As well, with a whole production of about 6 million-ton year
−1 ,
Egypt is the highest rice producer in Africa [1]. Therefore, rice is one of the major
field crops in Egypt. It engages about 0.65 million ha with about 6 million metric tons
yearly of rough rice contributing about 20% to the per capita cereal consumption.
Rice, in Egypt, is one of the potential export crops that can supply foreign exchange
to the country. Moreover, it has an important socio-economic influence since many of
the labor force is employed in the rice production sector. The inability to accomplish
self-sufficiency in rice production in some countries is resulting from several major
limitations; mainly water scarcity [2].
Rice is mainly grown in the Nile Delta [1, 12]. However, the country has several
production zones and grades as one of the highest producers per area unit in the
world [2]. Rice cultivation is intensified in the Delta mainly because of its soils that
consisted of a thick clay layer. The formation of this layer was associated with the
deposition of sediments that were carried along the Nile river path by historic floods.
Sediment depositions in the northern part of the Delta (coastal area) led to forming
a compact muddy clay layer that is almost impermeable. Thus, soil drainage is
hindered by heavy clays that extended over large areas of this region, endangering the
cultivation of non-flooded crops. It worthy noticed that the northern strip of the Delta
is also distinguished by highly saline groundwater because of subsurface intrusion
of seawater and/or marine entrance which attributed to continuous submergence of
this Delta part underneath sea water in historical periods. Intensive irrigation of the
low-permeable soils in the northern Delta would result in long flooding period, thus
creating an appropriate environment for high water-consuming plants, such as rice
and berseem [12]. It is stated that in Egypt and most other developing countries
that produce rice, it is commonly cultivated under continuous flooding with about
5 cm depth of standing water during the growing season [1]. Rice cultivation in such
method would also lead to leaching salts and/or pushing away salty groundwater
from the root zone. Subsequently, poorly drained parts of the northern Delta may
be considered as areas for rice and berseem cultivation only, being inappropriate
for rotation alternatives. The other area of the Delta (the southern part) varies in its
suitability for crop rotations. Therefore, cultivated rice in the southern part of the
Delta may be considered as useful for a cash crop as well as for its role in leaching salts
and/or improving soil conditions [12]. A comparison of the net profits among crops
shows that cultivating rice has higher benefit to farmers; subsequently, many farmers
H. Elbasiouny and F. Elbehiry
fertilization management, cultivation methods, developing new rice cultivars, and
utilizing of interesting materials such as biochar and rice straw [14].
3 Rice Production in Egypt
Only about 4% of Egypt’s total area is agricultural land. This area includes one of the
heaviest population densities worldwide. The remaining 96% of Egypt’s land area is
arid desert [15]. Egypt is the largest producer of rice in the Near East region, as well it
has the most productive rice farms worldwide with an average yield of 9 × 5 ton ha
−1
based on 2012 data. As well, with a whole production of about 6 million-ton year
−1 ,
Egypt is the highest rice producer in Africa [1]. Therefore, rice is one of the major
field crops in Egypt. It engages about 0.65 million ha with about 6 million metric tons
yearly of rough rice contributing about 20% to the per capita cereal consumption.
Rice, in Egypt, is one of the potential export crops that can supply foreign exchange
to the country. Moreover, it has an important socio-economic influence since many of
the labor force is employed in the rice production sector. The inability to accomplish
self-sufficiency in rice production in some countries is resulting from several major
limitations; mainly water scarcity [2].
Rice is mainly grown in the Nile Delta [1, 12]. However, the country has several
production zones and grades as one of the highest producers per area unit in the
world [2]. Rice cultivation is intensified in the Delta mainly because of its soils that
consisted of a thick clay layer. The formation of this layer was associated with the
deposition of sediments that were carried along the Nile river path by historic floods.
Sediment depositions in the northern part of the Delta (coastal area) led to forming
a compact muddy clay layer that is almost impermeable. Thus, soil drainage is
hindered by heavy clays that extended over large areas of this region, endangering the
cultivation of non-flooded crops. It worthy noticed that the northern strip of the Delta
is also distinguished by highly saline groundwater because of subsurface intrusion
of seawater and/or marine entrance which attributed to continuous submergence of
this Delta part underneath sea water in historical periods. Intensive irrigation of the
low-permeable soils in the northern Delta would result in long flooding period, thus
creating an appropriate environment for high water-consuming plants, such as rice
and berseem [12]. It is stated that in Egypt and most other developing countries
that produce rice, it is commonly cultivated under continuous flooding with about
5 cm depth of standing water during the growing season [1]. Rice cultivation in such
method would also lead to leaching salts and/or pushing away salty groundwater
from the root zone. Subsequently, poorly drained parts of the northern Delta may
be considered as areas for rice and berseem cultivation only, being inappropriate
for rotation alternatives. The other area of the Delta (the southern part) varies in its
suitability for crop rotations. Therefore, cultivated rice in the southern part of the
Delta may be considered as useful for a cash crop as well as for its role in leaching salts
and/or improving soil conditions [12]. A comparison of the net profits among crops
shows that cultivating rice has higher benefit to farmers; subsequently, many farmers