Desert farming

Desert farming is the cultivation of crops and raising of livestock in arid environments, adapted to scarce water, high heat, and often poor soils.

Drip irrigation: An irrigation method that delivers water through pipes and emitters directly to plant roots. It limits evaporation and directs scarce water to crops.
Oasis: A fertile area in a desert where water supports vegetation and human settlement. Oasis farming concentrates crops around springs, wells, or other dependable water sources.
Aridity: A climatic condition in which potential water loss exceeds precipitation over time. Persistent water deficit is the defining constraint on desert cultivation.
Hydroponics: A method of growing plants without soil by supplying nutrients in water. It can reduce water use but depends on controlled systems and inputs.
Desert agriculture: Agriculture practiced in arid regions, encompassing crops, livestock, and water management. Desert farming is one approach within this broader form of agriculture.
Qanat: An underground channel system that conveys groundwater from an upland source to settlements or fields. Qanats supply irrigation water while reducing losses to surface evaporation.
Evapotranspiration: The combined transfer of water to the atmosphere through evaporation and plant transpiration. It determines how quickly crops and soils lose water in hot, dry air.
Rain-fed agriculture: Crop production that relies primarily on rainfall rather than applied irrigation. Desert farming often requires water sources beyond unpredictable precipitation.
Wadi: A dry riverbed or valley that may carry water during seasonal rains or flash floods. Wadis can concentrate runoff and support cultivation where water briefly collects.
Fog harvesting: The capture of liquid water from fog using mesh, surfaces, or other collectors. Fog can provide an additional water source in suitable coastal deserts.

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