AASTMT is committed to water conservation, incorporating a program and policy across all campuses. Initiatives include reducing water usage for sprinkler irrigation and installing water-saving faucets, low-flush toilet seats, and technological non-flushing urinals. New campus buildings align with green building principles, contributing to water conservation. Efforts extend to services like car washing, where water use is minimized.
AASTMT makes use of all available public spaces to enhance agriculture, flower beds, trees, shrubs, and indigenous plants. Employing an automated irrigation system, the institution ensures efficient watering, complemented by a water spraying system for fields. AASTMT depends on underground water sourced from 13 borehole ground wells at the Abu-Qir Campus for both irrigation and drinking purposes. This water undergoes regular monitoring and treatment procedures to maintain its quality.
Utilizing drip irrigation techniques with perforated pipe networks in agricultural beds during the implementation of public site modifications around projects, instead of using high-water-consuming flood irrigation, which requires potable water.
AASTMT Aquaculture Research Center on AASTMT webpage
Campuses Upgrades on AASTMT webpage
Hydroponics, the practice of cultivating plants without soil, involves planting flowers, herbs, and vegetables in inert growing media. These plants receive nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water. This method facilitates accelerated growth, higher yields, and enhanced quality. In traditional soil-based growth, a plant's roots are in constant search of necessary nutrients.
Conversely, when a plant's root system has direct access to water and nutrients, it expends less energy on sustaining itself. This redirected energy can significantly contribute to the plant's overall development. Hydronic innovations have demonstrated that direct exposure to nutrient-enriched water can outperform traditional irrigation methods, offering a more effective and versatile growth approach. The hydronic system notably reduces the amount of fresh water required by plants to 95% and amplifies plant production by three times compared to traditional land cultivation methods.
AASTMT Aquaculture Research Center on AASTMT webpage
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The project at AASTMT - AbuQuir Campus addresses growing concerns about increasing pollution in aquatic resources and climate change affecting freshwater quality. This is particularly crucial for drinking, the food industry, and irrigation. Focusing on groundwater as a potential solution, especially in arid regions where it is the primary source, the project aims to enhance the irrigation and drinking water quality from 13 borehole ground wells at Abu Qir Campus, near Alexandria City's eastern shore. The project involves collecting and analyzing physical, chemical, and biological water samples to assess pollution regionally and temporally, correlating findings with environmental and climatic conditions. Nanotechnology will be employed to improve water quality. The AASTMT has fully funded the project, emphasizing the main objective of enhancing water quality through seasonal water sampling and subsequent improvements. The main objective of the project is:
The quality of water for irrigation is determined by the concentration and composition of dissolved elements. Assessing salinity or alkali conditions in irrigated regions requires careful evaluation of water quality. Key factors influencing the quality of irrigated water include total soluble salts (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), chemical concentrations of potentially toxic elements like Na+ and Cl-, and the presence of residual sodium carbonate or residual alkalinity (RSC or RA). Post-treatment results indicate a significant improvement in water quality, making it suitable for irrigation purposes.
Currently, a renewable, innovative & integrated water treatment unit is being developed to power a three-phase pump, serving the dual function of lifting water from a well and subsequently channeling it through a state-of-the-art four-stage nano-filtration system, thereby ensuring its purity and suitability for various applications, including cultivation and drinking.
Monitoring, Assessment and Innovative Treatment Technology to Enhance Groundwater Quality for Irrigation toward Climate Change Adaptation on AASTMT webpage
President Professor Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag visited the agricultural plant nursery at the main campus of the Academy in Abu Qir to assess progress and recent developments. During the visit, he inspected newly added plants, as well as new irrigation systems implemented in the general area and new agricultural greenhouses. The President commended the nursery team for their efforts, especially in adopting modern agricultural and irrigation techniques. He expressed hope for continued efficiency and adherence to modern methods in their work.
Implementing New Irrigation Systems on AASTMT webpage
