Citrus Production Conditions in Algeria: Drought and Irrigation Issues

Citrus production in Algeria faces considerable challenges due to climate change, with drought being the most damaging factor. This chapter focuses on examining the conditions for citrus growth in this region. An overview of the diversity of citrus species and varieties in Algeria has been presented, and a description of citrus production conditions in the Mediterranean region, with particular attention to determining the water requirements of citrus trees, has been outlined. Among various factors, soil texture is one of the primary determinants of drought tolerance. In this regard, the reference available soil water capacity (AWC), which is closely linked to soil texture, was introduced. Textural analysis reveals that the majority of Algerian citrus orchard soils exhibit medium to fine textures. Notably, the Mitidja, the most productive citrus-growing region in Algeria, is characterized by fluvisols soil type with an AWC of 250 mm/m. Subsequently, CROPWAT has been used to assess the irrigation requirements (IR) for citrus. A predictive study for the horizon of 2050 is also conducted. The results predict an average increase of 12% in irrigation requirements by 2050. Finally, an evaluation of irrigation efficiency reveals that the applied irrigation quantity is 41.4% greater than the CROPWAT estimation.