Rain Water Model for Improved Rangeland Productivity in Butana, Sudan

Butana is a flat clay plain in North Eastern Sudan, considered as one among the best grazing areas in the country but is one of the poorest area. The area is rich with natural resources, but lacks permanent sources of water. Sometimes the area suffers severe shortage of water that reflects on rangeland condition. This study aimed to maximize benefits from rainwater through application of micro and macro water harvesting techniques using remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS). A general model for water management, which uses the output results of remote sensing data, ground survey and water harvesting experiment findings in the central Butana rangeland, is designed to simulate the potential of biomass production in this rangeland. The model linked the final results of remote sensing and GIS, which include rainfall map, PVI, biomass map, rain use efficiency map and drainage map, together with the results of field measurements of water harvesting experiment and ground survey.