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 VOLUME Vol.05 Issue07 2025 

PAGE NO. 24-36 

DOI 10.37547/ajahi/Volume05Issue07-06 

 
 
 
 

Spatial Variation in Agricultural Land Use in Ain Tamr 

District, Karbala Governorate 
 

Lect. Dr. Faisal Kareem Hadi Al-Zamili 

Ministry of Education, General Directorate of Education in Najaf Governorate, Iraq 

 

Asst. Lect. Teeba Hussein Ali Al-Nasiri 

Ministry of Education, General Directorate of Education in Najaf Governorate, Iraq 

 

 

Received: 21 May 2025; Accepted: 17 June 2025; Published: 19 July 2025 

 

Abstract: This research aims to study the spatial variation of agricultural land use in the Ain Tamr district of Karbala 
Governorate, to understand patterns of agricultural land use and the spatial distribution of cultivated crops. The 
research relies on a descriptive-analytical approach to study the distribution of agricultural land and the impact 
of geographical factors, such as soil, climate, and water availability, on agricultural production.   

 

Keywords: Pome fruit orchards, flower, bronze beetle, damage, species composition, apple, pear, quince, 
vegetation, occurrence level. 

 

Introduction: The research focused on the challenges 
facing the agricultural sector in the region, such as soil 
degradation and water resource scarcity, while offering 
proposals to address the problems facing the study 
area and enhance agricultural sustainability. 

The research found a close relationship between the 
distribution of agricultural land in the Ain Tamr district 
and surrounding factors, such as water availability and 
topography. There is also significant variation in 
agricultural land use, reflecting the natural and 
economic diversity of the study area. Furthermore, 
lands of high agricultural value are concentrated in 
specific areas within the district, which calls for 
measures to protect these lands and enhance their 
sustainability. Chapter One: Theoretical Framework of 
the Research 

Population growth in the study area is one of the most 
important reasons for the continuous increase in 
demand for food, leading to changes in agricultural 
land use and future trends. Therefore, we must use 
scientific methods to plan agricultural land use and 
study the natural and human geographical 
characteristics of the region, with its various elements, 
to utilize them optimally. This requires future 
development and addressing the problems that arise. 

First: The Research Problem: 

The following question represented the problem of this 
research: 

(What is the spatial variation in agricultural land use in 
Ain Tamr District?) 

There are secondary problems represented by: 

1 - What is the classification of land use in Ain Tamr 
District? 

2 - How are agricultural land uses distributed 
geographically in Ain Tamr District? 

3 - What are the problems facing agricultural land use 
in Ain Tamr District? 

Second: The Research Hypothesis: The main research 
hypothesis was represented by the following: 

(There is spatial variation in agricultural land use in Ain 
Tamr District.) 

The researcher hypothesized a set of secondary 
hypotheses: 

1 - Land uses in Ain Tamr District are classified 
according to crops and cultivated areas. 

2 - Agricultural land uses vary spatially in the Ain Tamr 
District. 

 

https://doi.org/10.37547/ajahi/Volume05Issue07-06
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajahi/Volume05Issue07-06
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajahi/Volume05Issue07-06
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajahi/Volume05Issue07-06


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American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations (ISSN: 2771-2559) 
 

 

3 - Agricultural land use problems in the area are 
numerous, including misuse of land, poor planning, and 
failure to follow scientific methods. 

Third: Research Objectives: 

1. To clarify the geographical distribution of agricultural 
land uses in Ain Tamr District. 

2. To identify changes in agricultural land uses in Ain 
Tamr District. 

3. To identify the problems facing agricultural land uses 
in the study area to mitigate their risks or address 
them. 

Fourth: The importance of the research: 

The study of spatial variation in agricultural land use in 
Ain Tamr District is one of the most important studies 
that must be highlighted, given the vital role the 
agricultural sector plays in achieving food security and 
economic development. This type of study helps 
identify and understand spatial patterns of agricultural 
land use, which contributes to improving natural 
resource management and enhancing agricultural 
production efficiency. These studies also help uncover 
challenges facing the agricultural sector, such as soil 
degradation or water shortages, and provide scientific 
solutions that contribute to the development of the 
agricultural sector in the study area. 

Fifth: Boundaries of the Research Area: 

The study area lies between latitudes (32° 10 - 32° 45) 
north and longitudes (43° 15 - 43° 45) east, in the 
southwestern part of Karbala Governorate. The study 
area is bordered to the east by Al-Hur District, and to 
the rest of the way by Anbar Governorate. The 
northern parts also occupy a large portion of Lake 
Razzaza. The overall area lies within the western desert 
plateau, and the Ain al-Tamr District covers an area of 
206,355 km2—map 1. 

Sixth: Research Methodology: 

The researcher relied on the descriptive and analytical 
approach to analyze the phenomenon, drawing on a 
variety of sources, including books, letters, 
dissertations, and government data. Seventh: Research 
Structure: 

The research structure included four chapters. The first 
focused on studying: the theoretical framework of the 
research, including the research problem, the research 
hypothesis, its objectives, its importance, the research 
methodology, and the boundaries of the study area. 
The second chapter examined the use of agricultural 
land, its importance, and the classification of land uses. 
The third chapter included the use of agricultural land 
in the study area, while the fourth chapter included 
conclusions and recommendations. 

Map (1) Location of the study area in Iraq and the holy 
Karbala Governorate 

Source: Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Water Resources, 
General Survey Authority, Map Production Division, 
Administrative Map of Iraq at a scale of 1:000,000 for 
the year 2024. 

Eighth: Concepts included in the research: 

1- Land: It is the dry, solid area of the Earth (1), or it is 
the soil surface that serves as a field for various human 
activities and for establishing facilities, fields, and farms 
for plant production (2). 

2. Land uses: There are various definitions of land use, 
including Bernhard's definition, which focuses on 
shedding light on spatial changes in agriculture and 
examining their causes (3). 

Vink sees it as a fixed or periodic type of human 
intervention to secure human needs, whether material, 
moral, or both, from natural and industrial resources 
called land (4). It is also human activity on the land to 
which it is linked, and its use is limited to a specific area. 

 



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Land, whether urban or rural (5). The term "land use" is 
also used to describe the nature of human interaction 
with their environment, or as the activity by which 
humans interact with their environment, provided that 
this activity is represented within a portion of the land. 

3. Agricultural land: Land invested in agricultural 
production by any method, or areas that combine the 
suitability of their soil for agriculture with their current 
agricultural status, thus being highly suitable for 
agricultural purposes at the same time that they are 
currently being cultivated (6). 

Section Two: Classification of Land Uses in the Study 
Area 

The agricultural land uses invested for plant production 
in the study area and their importance are classified as 
follows: 

First: Agricultural land uses invested for grain crops: 

The agricultural land uses invested for grain crops in the 
study area for the year 2022 include wheat, barley, 
mung beans, and yellow corn. These crops topped the 
other cultivated crops in terms of area, reaching 53,984 
dunums, as shown in Table 2. The following is a 
presentation of these crops: 

Table 2: Geographical distribution of agricultural crop areas in the study area for the year 2022 

Crops Cultivated Area / Dunum Percentage % 

Grains 53984 39.8 

Industrial 51350 37.8 

Vegetables 25221 18.6 

Horticulture 3740 2.7 

Forage 1450 1.1 

Total 135745 100 

 Source: 

Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Agriculture, Karbala 
Agriculture Directorate, Ain al-Tamr Agriculture 
Division, Planning and Follow-up, Implemented 
Agricultural Plan for 2022, Unpublished Data. 

Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Agriculture, Karbala 

Agriculture Directorate, Karbala Agriculture Division, 
Plant Production, Areas of Land Cultivated with Palm 
Trees and Fruits, 2022, Unpublished. 

1- Wheat Crop: 

Wheat is one of the most important crops cultivated in 
the study area, with the area invested in cultivating this 



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American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations (ISSN: 2771-2559) 
 

 

crop amounting to 31,043 dunums, or 57.5% of the 
total grain area in the study area. Its production 

amounted to 9,728.95 tons, or 62.5% of the total grain 
production. 

Table 3: Geographical Distribution of Cereal Crops According to Their Production Areas and Quantities 

in Ain al-Tamr District for 2022 

Crops Cultivated Area / 

Dunum 

Percentage % Production 

Quantity 

Percentage 

Wheat 31043 57.5 59728.9  62.5 

Barley 14742 27.3 3479.92 22.3 

Mung Beans 7000 13 1742 11.2 

Yellow Corn 1199 2.2 626.92 4 

Total 53984 100 15578.29 100 

Source: Karbala Agriculture Directorate, Planning and 
Follow-up Department, Implemented Agricultural Plan 
for Cereal Crops for 2022, Unpublished 

As shown in Table 3, the reason for this may be that 
there are areas of rain-fed land invested in cultivating 
this crop, and that no other crop competes with it, as 
well as the economic blockade on Iraq and government 
subsidies for its prices. Furthermore, wheat is a major 
crop whose multiple operations, such as plowing, 
sowing, irrigation, and harvesting, require a specific 
number of workers. Therefore, large areas of this crop 
can be cultivated with a small number of workers (5). 

2- Barley: 

It comes after wheat in importance, and its cultivation 
requires conditions similar to those of wheat, except 
that it tolerates greater temperature differences and is 
more tolerant of drought and humidity than wheat. 
Moreover, good soil conditions are not essential for 
barley growth as is the case with wheat (6). The rain-
fed area invested in cultivating this crop was 1,040 
dunums in 2002. 

The area invested in cultivating this crop was 14,742 
dunums, or 27.3% of the total area planted with grains. 
Its production amounted to 3,479.92 tons, or 22.3% of 
the total grain production in the study area in 2022, as 
shown in Table 3 3. Mung bean crop: 

It is a summer crop that comes second to barley in 
importance. The area invested in it amounts to 7,000 
dunams, or 13% of the total area planted with grains. 
Its production amounted to 1,742.5 tons, or 11.1% of 
the total grain production in the study area, as shown 
in Table 3. 

Yellow corn crop: 

Maize is a summer crop that comes second to mung 
bean in area. The area invested in planting this crop 
amounts to 1,199 dunams, or 22% of the total grain 
area in the study area. Its production amounts to 
626.92 tons, or 4% of the total grain production in the 
study area, as shown in Table 3. The reason for this low 
percentage is due to the crop being exposed to the 
dangers of a number of animals, especially pigs, which 
leads to damage to the crop and a lack of motivation 
for farmers to cultivate it. The areas occupied by this 
crop remain very small, not commensurate with its 
importance as a human food or its potential for use in 
the production of various agricultural and industrial 
products, particularly vegetable oils. Furthermore, 
increasing its area could contribute significantly to the 
development of livestock in the study area. Second: 
Uses of agricultural land invested in industrial crops: 

Uses of agricultural land invested for industrial crops 
(pistachios, cotton, and sesame) rank second after 
grain crops in terms of cultivated area in the study area. 
The total cultivated area is 4,016 dunums of the total 
cultivated area above. 

The total cultivated area of this area is 51,350 dunums, 
or 37.8% of the total area cultivated with industrial 
crops in the study area, as shown in Table 4. The 
reasons that encouraged the expansion of this type of 
use are the encouragement of a large number of 
owners of various farms to grow it due to the sharp rise 
in its prices in local markets. Therefore, we find that the 
area of this type of crop has increased significantly. To 
reveal the nature of these crops, they were studied 
according to their importance in the study area, as 
follows. 

Table 4 

Geographical distribution of areas planted with industrial crops (pistachios, cotton, and sesame) 

and their production quantities for the year 2022 

 

Crops Cultivated Area / 

Dunum 

Percentage % Production 

Quantity 

Percentage 



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Pistachios 41200 80.2 28541.7 90 

Cotton 5200 10.1 2236 7 

Sesame 4950 9.7 944.05 3 

Total 51350 100 31721.75 100 

Source: Karbala Agriculture Directorate, Planning and 
Follow-up Department, Implemented Agricultural Plan 
for the Cultivation of Industrial Crops for the Year 2022, 
Unpublished Data. 1. Field Pistachio Crop: 

The field pistachio crop is one of the main crops grown 
in the study area, and its area and production exceed 
those of other industrial crops for successful 
cultivation. Throughout its life cycle, the field pistachio 
crop requires a hot, frost-free climate. A temperature 
of 30°C is ideal for germination and growth (7). Its need 
for light is minimal, as the crop can grow under the 
shade of perennial trees and can also be grown mixed 
with other annual plants. Its soil requirements are 
minimal compared to its climatic requirements, as well-
drained, sandy, clayey soil is suitable for growing field 
pistachios. Field pistachios require abundant water 
during their growth period, as they require between 15 
and 22 irrigations during their growth period (8). They 
also require a large workforce, starting from preparing 
the land for cultivation until harvesting after 6-7 
months, and then collecting it for drying. 

2. Cotton Crop 

Cotton is one of the most important cash crops in the 
study area after pistachios, as it is a major source of 
income for farmers. This is due to the inability to 
consume its fibers or seeds directly before processing, 
unlike other crops such as wheat, barley, corn, and 
various legumes (9). The area planted with cotton in 
the study area amounted to 5,200 dunums, or 10% of 
the area of industrial crops in the region. Its production 
amounted to 2,236 tons, or 7% of the total cotton 
production in the study area, as shown in Table 4. 

3. Sesame crop: The area planted with this crop 
amounted to 4,950 dunums in 2022, or 9.7% of the 
total area, and 944.05 tons, or 3% of the total 
production of industrial crops in the study area, as 
shown in Table 4. 

Third: Uses of agricultural land invested in vegetable 
crops: 

Vegetable crops rank third in agricultural land use in 
the study area in terms of cultivated area, and they are 
constantly increasing due to high demand and rising 
prices. Therefore, their production is strongly linked to 
marketing and consumption centers, as these crops are 
particularly sensitive, perishable, and highly 
susceptible to climatic conditions and weather 
fluctuations, requiring special care. The area planted 
with vegetables amounts to 25,221 dunums, or 18.6% 
of the total area planted with field crops in the study 
area, as shown in Table 5. These crops are classified in 
the study area according to their thermal requirements 
and their growing season into two main categories: 
summer vegetables and winter vegetables, as follows: 

1 - Summer vegetables: 

They come at the forefront of the vegetables planted in 
the study area in terms of crop area, as their area 
amounts to 20,119 dunums, or 79.8% of the total area 
planted with vegetables in the study area. As for their 
production quantities, they amounted to (46,228.3) 
tons, or 78.3% of the total vegetable production in the 
study area, as shown in Table 5. The reason for this is 
attributed to the increasing demand and high prices. 2- 
Winter vegetables (10): 

They come after summer vegetables in importance in 
terms of the area invested in vegetables in the study 
area, because the largest use of land is for the 
cultivation of food crops such as wheat and barley. The 
area planted with winter vegetables in the study area 
amounts to 5102 dunams, or the equivalent of 2002) of 
the total area planted with vegetables for the year 
2022. Their production amounted to (1280001) tons, or 
the equivalent of (2107) of the total vegetable 
production for the same year. Table 5 

Table 5: Geographical distribution of the area and production methods of vegetable crops in the 

study area for the year 2022 

Crops Cultivated Area / 

Dunum 

Percentage % Production 

Quantity 

Percentage 

Summer 

Vegetables 

20119 79.8 46228.3 78.3 

Winter 

Vegetables 

5102 20.2 12800.1 21.7 

Total 25221 100 5028.4 100 



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Source: Karbala Agriculture Directorate, Planning and 
Follow-up Department, Agricultural Plan for Vegetable 
Crops for the Year 2022 (unpublished data). 

Fourth: Uses of Agricultural Land Invested in 
Horticulture: 

These uses ranked sixth in terms of crop area, with the 
area invested in them amounting to 3,740 dunums in 
2022, representing 2.7% of the total land use area in 
the study area. 

1 - Citrus Trees 

ranked first among horticultural crops in terms of their 
numbers, with 98,900 trees, or 27.3% of their number, 
producing 2,700 tons, or 25.6% of the horticultural crop 
production in the study area, as shown in Table 6. 

2- Pomegranate 

Citrus trees are next in importance in terms of their 
numbers, reaching 78,100 trees, or 21.5% of the total 
number in the study area. They produced 2,003 tons, 
or 19.4% of the total production in the study area, as 
shown in Table 6. 

3- Apple trees 

These trees rank third in terms of their numbers among 
orchard trees in the study area, reaching 66,900 trees, 
or 18.4% of the total orchard trees in the study area, 
producing 1,525 tons, or 14.5% of the total orchard tree 
production in the study area, as shown in Table 6. The 
reason for their last position is attributed to 
competition from other crops, as well as the variation 
in geographical characteristics from one province to 
another. 

Table 6: Number of fruit trees, their production quantities, and percentages in the study area for 

the year 2022 

 

N Trees Number Of 

Trees/100 

Percentage 

%  

Production 

Tons/100 

Percentage 

% 

1 Citrus 989 27 27 26 

2 Pomegranates 781 22 20.47 19 

3 Apples 669 18 15.25 15 

4 Palms 498 14 26.5 25 

5 Olives 312 9 7.27 7 

6 Grapes 282 8 6.78 6 

7 Figs 96 3 2.023 2 

Total 3627 100 105.3 100 

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Karbala Agriculture 
Directorate, Plant Production Department, Number of 
Fruit Trees and Production Quantity for 2022, 
Miscellaneous Records (Unpublished Data). 

 

4- Palm Trees: 

Palm trees rank fourth in number among horticultural 
trees in the study area, with 49,800 trees, or 1307% of 
the total number of horticultural trees, and their 
production amounted to 2,646 tons, or 25.2% of the 
total horticultural production in the study area (Table 
6). 5. Olive Trees: 

Olive trees rank fifth in number among horticultural 
trees in the study area, with 31,200 trees, or 8.6% of 
the total number of trees in the study area. They 
produced 726 tons, or 6.9% of the total production in 
the study area (Table 6). This is due to the large area 
suitable for cultivation, on the one hand, and the 
availability of suitable natural conditions for their 
cultivation, on the other hand, particularly fertile soil 
and irrigation water. 

6. Grape Trees 

Grape trees rank sixth in number of horticultural trees 
in the study area, with 28,200 trees, or 7.8% of the total 
number of horticultural trees, and their production 
reached 678 tons, representing 6.4% of the total 
production of horticultural trees (Table 6). 7- Fig trees 

They rank last in terms of the number of trees in the 
study area, amounting to 9,600 trees, or 2.6% of the 
total number of horticultural trees in the study area. 
They produced 203 tons, or 109% of the total 
horticultural crop production in the study area (Table 
6). This is likely due to the availability of mixed soil and 
sufficient water, as well as their proximity to marketing 
centers. Fifth: Uses of Agricultural Land for Fodder 
Crops 

Although fodder crops (alfalfa and clover) have been 
cultivated in Iraq since ancient times due to their high 
nutritional value, as they contain a high percentage of 
protein that may exceed 20% of dry matter (11), the 
land uses allocated for fodder crops in the study area 
rank last due to its geographical location within the 
steppe region, which is rich in grass plants, and due to 



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the weak connection between grain producers and 
livestock breeders, which is the direct basis for meeting 
the fodder needs of livestock (12). Furthermore, due to 
the nature of the fallow system and the lack of land 
invested in fodder production, grazing sources have 
declined in abandoned lands due to their unsuitability 
for agriculture, fallow lands, and hillsides. These 
sources do not meet the needs of livestock. Therefore, 
the area invested in fodder crops amounted to 1,450 
dunams, or 1.1% of the total area invested in field crops 
in the study area. 

Third Section: 

Geographical Distribution of Agricultural Land Uses in 
the Study Area 

The study of agricultural land use classification is one of 
the most prominent approaches to uncovering human 
activity undertaken to provide food, the types, nature, 
and intensity of which vary in patterns and systems, 
according to the varying areas and sizes of the holdings 
they occupy. This has led agricultural geography, in its 
distinct field of agricultural uses, to undertake the 
study and delve into its implications, adopting selected 
criteria to distinguish and classify them, and then 
evaluating them to achieve optimal use in light of the 
geographical factors influencing them (13). 

Given the importance of these studies in the Ain al-
Tamr region, geography has assumed a distinct role in 
establishing its existence, and geography has assumed 
its place through applied approaches, in light of the 
spatial analysis of these uses and the interest in spatial 
organization within their scope, based on the nature of 
their relationships, for the purpose of scientific 
interpretation, which falls under the purview of 
practical research. Through conducting repeated field 
studies in the study area by the concerned government 
agencies represented by the Agriculture Division, and 
identifying the components and problems that officially 
help or affect the areas of land reclaimed for 
agriculture or those that are not qualified for 
agriculture, here the concerned authorities and 
research must identify the obstacles and problems that 
in turn lead to the lack of agricultural expansion, the 
use of that land and its exploitation with agricultural 
crops or agricultural products in general, and clarify the 
climatic conditions or surface features and soil 
problems, as well as the percentage of rainfall in the 
study area and focus on the divided groundwater 
reservoirs, the Al-Tayyarat reservoir, which is the 
deepest water-bearing layer, as well as the Umm 

Ardhma reservoir and the Dammam reservoir, or 
surface water represented by flood water in the valleys 
or Al-Razzaza Lake, which is located east of the city of 
Ain Al-Tamr and is found in the study area, and provide 
some services that qualify for agriculture, including 
transportation roads and agricultural crops, as well as 
fertilizers, and provide the basic components in 
rehabilitating and exploiting that land for agriculture or 
encouraging the population to exploit that land 
through its cultivation, thus leading to getting rid of the 
phenomenon of desertification and providing 
vegetation cover in that area, as well as employing the 
largest number of hands The workforce and the 
provision of agricultural products undermine the 
government sector and the provision of consumer 
goods in general. Here, agricultural land can be divided 
according to the following table. Through field studies 
and visits to large areas of the study area, or repeated 
visits to the agricultural departments and divisions 
related to the district or the study area, the following 
was revealed: 

1- The geographical distribution of agricultural land 
uses in the study area. 

Table (7) and Figure (1) show that the total land in the 
study area in 2016 was 761,267 dunums, of which 
601,661 were arable land, representing 79.0%. 
Meanwhile, unsuitable agricultural land constituted 
159,606 dunums, representing 21.0%. The above 
shows that the percentage of arable land was higher 
than the percentage of unsuitable land. This is due to 
the fact that most of the region's residents are rural and 
practice agriculture as an economic resource to meet 
their current needs and source of daily income. 
However, in 2024, the percentage of arable land 
declined compared to what it was in 2023, the area of 
arable land reached (592,968) dunums, while the area 
of unsuitable land increased by (168,299) dunums. 
Regarding the percentage, the percentage of 
unsuitable land increased compared to the previous 
year by (22.1%), while the percentage of arable land 
decreased compared to the previous year, recording a 
percentage of (77.9%). Despite the decrease, it 
remained high compared to the unsuitable land for 
cultivation in 2024. The reason for the decrease in the 
percentage is the migration of many workers from the 
countryside to the city, in addition to the low 
productivity of agricultural land due to the prevailing 
climatic conditions, which are characterized by high 
temperatures and scarcity of water. 

Table (7) Areas of arable and unsuitable land for the year (2023-2024) 

Ain Tamr 

District 

2023 2024 

The land is 

suitable  

Non-arable 

land 
Total 

The land is 

suitable 

Non-arable 

land 
Total 



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Areas 601661 159606 761267 592968 168299 761267 

Percentage 79.0 21.0 100.0 77.9 22.1 100.0 

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate of Agriculture in Karbala Governorate, Agricultural Statistics 

Division, unpublished data for the year 2023-2024. 

Figure (1) Arable and non-arable land areas for the year (2023-2024) 

 

Source: Based on Table (7). 

2- Agricultural land uses in the study area invested in 
plant production 

The study area is characterized by its good agricultural 
potential, including the agricultural land area and the 
flood irrigation system provided by the Husseiniya and 
Bani Hassan canals and their branches, as well as other 
areas irrigated by pumps, in addition to the 
groundwater available. Therefore, agricultural 
production is not limited to meeting the local needs of 
the population alone, but also for export of a number 
of crops, most notably palm trees, fruits, and citrus 
fruits. This can be studied as follows: 

A- Horticultural Crops 

Horticultural crops include fruit trees and palm trees. 
Fruits are the fruits and seeds of edible trees and 
plants. They are currently considered among the main 
food products due to their nutritional, organic, and 
mineral content, as well as the vitamins essential to 
humans. Fruit trees and palm trees receive great 
attention from a large number of farmers due to their 
high economic returns compared to other agricultural 
crops. The study area is characterized by geographical 
factors suitable for the cultivation of fruit trees and 

palm trees, with the cultivation and production of fruit 
and palm trees being at the forefront. The 
governorate's agricultural crops offer farmers a high 
economic return compared to vegetable and field 
crops, and they are sufficient to meet demand and 
export to other governorates ( ). From Table (8) and 
Figure (2), it is clear that the areas of agricultural lands 
for orchard trees have gradually increased. The area of  

orchard trees was recorded at (8,000) dunums in 2023, 
and the number of palm trees reached approximately 
(8,372,177) palm trees, and the number of fruit trees 
was recorded at (14,450) trees. Meanwhile, the area of 
orchard trees increased in 2024 to (8,375,425), and the 
number of palm trees also increased to (8,375,425), 
while the number of fruit trees decreased to (13,980). 
The reason for the increase in areas for orchard trees is 
due to encouragement from government policies and 
continuous support. In addition, palm trees require 
little water and can withstand high temperatures. The 
reason for the decline in the number of fruit trees is due 
to the spread of diseases and high temperatures that 
cause these trees to dry out and die. In addition, fruit 
trees require a lot of water, especially in the summer, 
and thus the burden on farmers will increase.  

Table (8) Area of orchards, number of palm trees and fruits in Ain Tamr district 

Year 
Area Of Orchard 

Trees 

Number Of Palm 

Trees (Palm 

Tree) 

Number Of Fruit Trees 

(Tree) 

2023 8000 8372177 14450 

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

Arable
Land

Non-arable
Land

Arable
Land

Non-arable
Land

20232024

Area

Percentage (%)



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American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations (ISSN: 2771-2559) 
 

 

2024 8122 8375425 13980 

 

Source: Karbala Governorate Agriculture Directorate, Agricultural Statistics Division, unpublished data for 

2023-2024. 

 

Figure (2) Area of orchards and number of fruits in Ain Tamr District 

 

 
Source based on data from Table (8). 

B- Vegetable Crops: 

Vegetable cultivation is an important and profitable 
crop if provided with proper care and the necessary 
supplies. It is of great importance due to its nutritional 
value. It is rich in minerals and salts and contains 
adequate amounts of vitamins. Therefore, its 
production is constantly increasing in light of the high 
demand for it. It is also particularly sensitive, as it is a 
perishable crop and highly susceptible to climatic 
conditions. It requires special care (14). 

3- Uses of Agricultural Land for Cereal Crops (Wheat 
and Barley) 

The agricultural land used for growing cereals occupies 
an area estimated at approximately 16,600 dunums in 

2023. Cereal crops include several types of crops, the 
most important of which are wheat and barley. 

Table (9) shows that grain crops have been increasing 
over the study period. The total area under grain crops 
reached 16,600 dunums, and this area increased to 
17,890 dunums in 2024. The reason for the increase in 
these areas is due to the low water requirements of 
these crops, as most of the areas depend on rainwater, 
and because they are winter crops. This, in turn, will 
provide for the cultivation of larger areas of land. 
Furthermore, there is ongoing support from the 
government, whether through the receipt of grains at 
competitive prices, which encourages the increase in 
areas, or through the distribution of water sprinklers, 
which in turn reduces the amount of water used.  

Table (9) Area of winter and summer grain crops for the year (2023-2024) 

 

Year Cereal Crops (Dunums) 

2023 16600 

2024 17890 

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate of 
Agriculture in Karbala Governorate, Agricultural 
Statistics (Planning and Follow-up), unpublished data 
for the year 2023-2024. 

A- Wheat Crop 

Table (10) shows an increase in the area of agricultural 
land during the study period. In 2023, it was recorded 

at (104,500) dunums, with a production volume of 
(28,900) tons and a production yield of (800) 
(kg/dunum). These areas continued to increase until 
they reached (123,205) dunums in 2024, while no 
information was available regarding the production 
quantity due to the incompleteness of the annual crop 
data for 2024. 

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

YearArea of Orchard
Trees

Number of Fruit
Trees



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American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations (ISSN: 2771-2559) 
 

 

Table (10) Wheat Crop Area in Ain al-Tamr District for the Year 2023-2024 

 

Year Wheat / Dunum Production/Ton 
Production Yield 

(Kg/Acre) 

2023 104500 Dunams 28,900 800 

2024 123205 Dunams - - 

Source: Directorate of Agriculture in Karbala 
Governorate, (Agricultural Statistics and Marketing 
Division), unpublished data for the year (2023-2024). 

B- Barley 

Barley cultivation requires conditions almost similar to 
wheat cultivation. However, it is more resistant to 
drought and disease than wheat and more productive 
under favorable environmental conditions. Therefore, 
it is designated for areas unsuitable for wheat 
cultivation, such as those with poor soil and little water. 
However, a temperature drop of up to 2°C affects 
barley seeds more significantly than wheat. However, a 
temperature rise generally does not affect the yield as 
significantly as wheat, as barley can tolerate 
temperatures of up to 40°C, while wheat cannot. This is 
perhaps due to barley maturing earlier than wheat (15). 
Barley grows best and yields higher yields when grown 

in well-drained, fertile, loamy soils. However, it can also 
be grown in sandy and saline soils, making it more 
resistant to salinity than wheat. 

Furthermore, its cultivation is primarily successful after 
bulrushes and legumes such as broad beans, lentils, 
and chickpeas. It also works well as a fodder mixture 
with clover. Table 11 shows that the barley crop area 
reached 500, with a recorded productivity of 130 
kg/dunum, and a production yield of 400 kg/dunum. In 
2024, the barley crop area reached 476 dunums. We 
note a decline in the barley crop area for 2024 
compared to 2023. This is due to low demand for the 
crop, especially during a period when livestock 
populations were declining. As for productivity for 
2024, it was not mentioned due to the lack of data, as 
the crop season had not yet ended.  

Table (11) Barley crop area in Ain Al-Tamr district for the year 2023 

 

Year Wheat / Dunum Production/Ton 
Production Yield 

(Kg/Acre) 

2023 500 130 400 

2024 476 - - 

Source: Directorate of Agriculture in Karbala 
Governorate, Marketing Division (Agricultural 
Statistics), unpublished data. 

5- Land Uses for Summer Cereal Crops 

Corn is one of the main cereal crops in Iraq due to its 
importance in human and animal nutrition. It is used in 
the production of dry fodder at rates of up to 70%. It is 
also used in the production of vegetable oils, such as 
corn oil extraction (16). 

Corn ranks first in agriculture in the district and the 
governorate as a whole due to its economic 
importance. The area planted with yellow corn in the 
district constitutes 68,196 dunams. It is also evident 
that the area planted with corn is distributed among 
the district's administrative units. 6: Livestock in the 
Study Area 

Studying the uses of agricultural land invested in 

livestock production is of great importance in studying 
agricultural land use. Livestock is a key component of 
agricultural operations and, due to its high protein 
content, represents an important nutrient that 
supports farmers on their farms, as well as contributing 
to agricultural production. Furthermore, its waste can 
be utilized as organic fertilizers, which are important in 
stimulating soil productivity. To understand the 
geographical distribution structure of livestock 
production in the study area, it was distributed based 
on the type of animal, its importance, and its total 
number (Table 12). Table 12 shows that the number of 
sheep in 2023 was recorded at 20,000 ewes, while the 
number of cows reached 1,200. The number of buffalo 
was recorded at 400, and the number of camels was 
recorded at 2,000, while the number of poultry reached 
50. As for 2024, no data was available for it at the end 
of the year, as the livestock is in the process of 
increasing. 

 

 



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Table (12) Numbers of livestock in Ain al-Tamr District for 2023 

 

Animal Type Number 

Sheep 20000 

Cattle 1200 

Buffalo 400 

Camels 2000 

Poultry 50حقل  

Total 23600 

 Source: Directorate of Agriculture in Karbala 
Governorate, Agricultural Statistics (Planning and 
Follow-up), unpublished data for 2023. 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

The Ain Tamr district is an agricultural area. Like any 
other agricultural area, Ain Tamr faces a number of 
problems and requires appropriate solutions to ensure 
agricultural sustainability and maximize the use of 
agricultural land. These are some of the common 
problems and potential solutions: 

Conclusions 

1. There is a close relationship between the distribution 
of agricultural land in Ain Tamr district and surrounding 
factors such as water availability, topography, and 
climate change. 

2. The researcher found significant variation in 
agricultural land use within the Ain Tamr district, 
reflecting the natural and economic diversity of the 
region. 

3. The study found that high-value agricultural land is 
concentrated in specific areas within the district, which 
calls for measures to protect these lands and enhance 
their sustainability. 

4. The data indicate changes in agricultural land use in 
the Ain Tamr district over time. This requires 
continuous analysis of agricultural patterns and trends 
to meet the needs of the population and conserve 
natural resources. 

5. It is noted that there is a disparity in agricultural land 
use between urban and rural areas in Ain Tamr District, 
requiring the adoption of dedicated policies to promote 
sustainability in both contexts. 

6. The data demonstrates an urgent need to improve 
the district's agricultural infrastructure, including 
improved irrigation and water management systems to 
increase productivity and enhance resilience to climate 
change. 

Recommendations 

1. Measures should be taken to conserve biodiversity in 
Ain Tamr District, including the conservation of 

agricultural land and crop genetic diversity. 

2. Local authorities and relevant institutions should 
ensure the efficient and sustainable use of natural 
resources in the area, including providing support to 
farmers and rural communities. 

3. Enhance spatial planning for agricultural use to 
ensure that agricultural land effectively meets the 
needs of residents and achieves environmental 
sustainability in the district. 

4. Enhance public-private sector cooperation to 
provide the necessary funding and resources to 
develop agricultural infrastructure in Ain Tamr District, 
including modernizing irrigation systems and 
developing agricultural technologies. 

5. The district's urban and agricultural planning 
authorities should develop integrated policies aimed at 
preserving available agricultural land and preventing 
unwanted conversions. 

6. Enhance training and education for farmers in Ain 
Tamr district on sustainable agricultural practices and 
the adoption of modern agricultural technologies to 
increase productivity and profitability. 

7. Conduct specialized studies and realistic assessments 
of agricultural land use in the district to track changes 
and better guide policies and measures. 

8. Local authorities and relevant institutions should 
encourage innovation in agriculture and provide 
support to small and medium-sized agricultural 
enterprises to promote sustainable development in the 
region. 

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American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations (ISSN: 2771-2559) 
 

 

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American Journal Of Agriculture And Horticulture Innovations (ISSN: 2771-2559) 
 

 

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