Land reclamation at l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa

Abstract

As a geography student, this dissertation is a case study of land reclamation for agricultural purposes at L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha. This study includes the gathering, description and analysis of land reclamation techniques so as to obtain the maximum sustained level of production from a given area of land whilst maintaining soil loss below a threshold level, which permits the natural rate of soil formation to keep pace with the rate of soil erosion. The material presented attempts to analyse the various conservation techniques of land reclamation, which can be described as agronomic measures, soil management and mechanical methods. Agronomic measures utilize the role of vegetation to protect the soil against erosion. Soil management regards the methods how to prepare soil for plant growth and to improve its structure so that it is more resistant to erosion. Mechanical methods regard engineering structures so as to reshape the topography of the area, such as installing terraces.