SOURCES OF WATER COMPENSATION OF THE ARGAN GROVE Argania spinosa L. IN ALGERIAN WESTERN SAHARA

Abstract

The Argan tree Argania spinosa L. is a major sylvopastoral component in the Algerian Western Sahara (Tindouf) in North West Africa. It grows in the rocky plateau “Hamada” of the Saharan desert. It is located in along the wadi beds, on sandy, rocky and gravelly substrates. It turns out that the region of Argan grove is characterized by extreme climatic conditions and a dry period that extends all year round. Under the severe aridity conditions the Argan tree adapts well on the hydrography of Hamada of Tindouf in the presence of underflows, where additional water supply is accumulated below the substrate of dry wadis beds.