In Morocco, saline irrigation significantly affects soil quality and reduces crop yields. This study evaluates the effect of salt stress on soil properties and the overall performance of the durum wheat variety “Faraj”, aiming to optimize production under saline conditions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted during the 2023–2024 season, using a completely randomized design (CRD) to assess soil properties, plant growth, and yield. Five salinity levels (0.2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS m⁻¹) were applied to two soil types: silty-clay (S1) and sandy (S2). Results showed significant changes in soil properties, including increased pH, electrical conductivity, and accumulation of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in soil. Grain yield decreased significantly with increasing salinity, from 1.12 t ha⁻¹ in freshwater to 0.12 t ha⁻¹ at 16 dS m⁻¹ in S1, and from 0.56 t ha⁻¹ in freshwater to 0.12 t ha⁻¹ at 16 dS m⁻¹ in S2. Straw yield was less affected, with values of 1.24 and 1.16 t ha⁻¹ for S1 and S2 at 12 dS m⁻¹, decreasing to 0.80 and 0.55 t ha⁻¹ at 16 dS m⁻¹. The “Faraj” variety shows good tolerance to salinity up to 8 dS m⁻¹ for grain yield and 12 dS m⁻¹ for straw yield, making it particularly suitable for moderately saline environments.

Groundwater is a valuable shared resource in the Moulouya Basin, but it has been in decline due to recent years of low rainfall and rapid population growth. To support socio-economic development, there is increased demand for this precious resource. This paper presents a standard methodology for delimiting potential groundwater zones using geographic information systems (GIS), an integrated analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and remote sensing techniques. Seven parameters that monitor the presence and mobility of groundwater, including drainage density, lithology, slope, precipitation, land use/land cover, distance to river, and lineament density, were incorporated into a raster data model using ArcGIS software. AHP-based expert knowledge was used to prepare a groundwater potential index and assign weights to the thematic layers. The study classified the area into five zones of varying groundwater potential: very high (26%), high (51%), moderate (13%), poor (9%), and very poor (1%). The accuracy of the model was validated by comparing the Groundwater Potential Zones map with data from 96 wells and boreholes across the basin. The validity of the results was confirmed by comparing them with the specific yield of the aquifer in the study area, yielding a high correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.79. The analysis revealed that 89.5% of the boreholes were situated in the high and very high potential zones, demonstrating the reliability and robustness of the employed approach. These findings can aid decision-making and planning for sustainable groundwater use in the water-stressed region.

This study evaluated the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model performance for modeling the portioning of rainfall in the Laou watershed (area: 940 km2) that extended over two different climatic settings in Morocco, (the Mediterranean sub-humid and the semi-arid). This research also...

In semi-arid regions such as the southwestern zone of Morocco, better management of water resources is crucial due to the frequent flooding phenomena. In this context, the use of hydrological models is becoming increasingly important, specifically in the Aguenza watershed. A multitude of hydrological models are available to make very efficient modeling, and from this perspective, a comparative approach was adopted using two models with different characteristics. Streamflow simulations were carried out continuously at daily time steps using GR4J and ATHYS (2002–2011). The latter was used also to simulate rainfall-runoff events (1984–2014). Simulation results using the distributed model are very efficient compared to those obtained by the lumped model “GR4J”, which shows the disadvantages of neglecting the hydrological processes during a hydrological study. However, a remarkable improvement was observed in the general appearance of the resulting hydrographs and the performance parameters after using the distributed model ((Calibration: NSE, RSR, and PBIAS increased successively by 8%, 6%, and 45.2%); (Validation: NSE, RSR, and PBIAS increased successively by 6%, 4%, and 8.9%)). In terms of flood event simulations, a good concordance between observed and simulated discharge was observed (NSE_median = 0.7), indicating its great reliability for simulating rainfall-runoff events in semi-arid and data-scarce regions. This research highlights the importance of using hydrological models, specifically the distributed model ATHYS, for the better management of water resources in semi-arid regions with frequent flooding events.

The implementation of the Urban Development Master Plan, SDAU (Schema Directeur d’Amenagement Urbain) in the Tangier-Tetouan region has marked a radical change in the territorial organization of these provinces: this process that began in 2004 with the construction of the port of Tanger-Med, and the infrastructures to support the port and related industrial areas. This action has meant the change of administrative boundaries as the project progressed. Although the demographic dynamics throughout the Kingdom of Morocco is a process of rural exodus, this migratory pattern is more intense in northern Morocco. The Andalusian Geographical Studies group of the University of Seville, together with Abdelmalek Essaadi University, has investigated the impact of such planning on spatial planning in a framework of international university cooperation since 2002. This article will update previous research based on remote sensing techniques and demographic statistics that analyze the changes that occurred over the last two decades. These changes consist of more than a massive displacement of the rural population toward the large cities and coastal towns. It also means the construction of large infrastructures, holiday houses, and a new pattern of settlement in rural areas. This article aims to describe these changes, as well as the trends in the immediate future, using statistical analysis and the evolution of land uses with GIS and remote sensing tools.

The Gharb aquifer plays a critical role as a source of drinking water and irrigation in Morocco. However, rapid economic growth and increased use of chemical fertilizers have led to groundwater pollution and land degradation. To address this issue, a vulnerability assessment was conducted using the Susceptibility Index (SI) method. Five parameters including depth to groundwater, effective recharge, slope, soil type, and land use/land cover were considered to evaluate groundwater vulnerability. The vulnerability assessment revealed index values ranging from 31 to 160. The study area was categorized into three zones of relative vulnerability (low, moderate, and high). Spatial analysis demonstrated significant spatial heterogeneity, with moderate vulnerability observed in areas characterized by shallow groundwater and composed primarily of sandstones in the northwest and southwest regions. In the entire study area, the low, medium, and high vulnerability zones covered 3%, 70%, and 26% (101 km², 2725 km², and 986 km²), respectively. Furthermore, Tritium isotope analysis and nitrate content were selected and applied as pollution markers to confirm and validate the obtained vulnerability map. The Tritium (³H) content in groundwater reveals a correlation with an R² value of 0.86 with the degree of vulnerability, while the nitrate concentration in the aquifer’s groundwater showed a correlation with an R² value of 0.55.