Jessour
Jessour are a series of hydrological units consisting of three components: the impluvium, the terrace and the dyke. The impluvium is the catchment area for every unit and is bordered by natural water divides. Each impluvium receives and discharges not only rainwater, but also all excess water from upstream units. Over time, terraces start to emerge after sediment is deposited against the built dykes. Agriculture is often practised on these terraces. With artificial soils of over 5 meters deep, these areas are suitable to cultivate fruit trees on.
The technique creates levelled agricultural plots, thereby recharging the underlying aquifer, controlling flood water runoff and erosion of soils. The dykes are built with a central or lateral spillway to drain any excess water. The ratio between the area where the harvested water is applied (production area) and the total area from which water is collected (catchment area) is estimated to be 1:5.
