ICBA Key Partners
World Bank	Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries	United States Agency for International Development
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research	International Fund for Agricultural Development	Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority
More Partners: Farmers Services Center (FSC). OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) Du Pont International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) National Academy of Sciences (NAS)

 Ministry of Environment and Water      

 Selecting salt-tolerant date palm varieties for the UAE

In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW), ICBA continued its long-term research in date palms that are a key component of production systems in the Arabian Peninsula characterized by drought and salinity stresses. The goal of this research is to identify high-yielding, tolerant date palm varieties and improve crop management techniques to maintain optimal functioning of the agro-production system and survival of the plants under stress environments.

During 2011 date palm canopy attributes (plant height, diameter, size and angle of the leaves and the fruiting branches) and yield parameters were recorded for each local and imported variety reaching maturity stage. Taking the experiment as a whole, there were significant variety, salinity and variety x salinity effects for all parameters. Local varieties, Shahla and Lulu, can be recommended for intermediate and highly saline water of irrigation, respectively. Indeed, these varieties performed the same during the previous years, thus showing inter-year stability. In contrast, varieties such as Nabatet Sultan, Um Al Hamam and Ajwa-Tul-Madinah seemed to be slightly adapted to the environment and showed high inter-year variation in yield.

In March 2011 ICBA was recognized during the Khalifa Date Palm Awards when it was one of the eight winners chosen out of 131 regional and international participants with its research on the potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Technology for Date Palms. The research was awarded second place in the 1st category of Distinguished Research and Studies.

In another partnership with MOEW, ICBA contributed to the successful conduct of the soil survey of the northern emirates as a member of the technical committee.


DEMONSTRATING THE POWER OF SYNERGY
Farmers’ Services Centers
Enhancing water and food security in the UAE

ICBA’s efforts in the United Arab Emirates will enhance water and food security and enable adaptation to the impacts of climate change. In a long-term collaboration with the Farmers’ Services Centre (FSC) – the intermediary between ADAFSA and the UAE farming community - the ICBA scientific team are researching improved varieties and non-conventional forages for replacing Rhodes grass in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate, improved farming management practices and developing capacity development for extension services and farmers.

Recognizing that on-farm trials with farmers’ participation will speed up the selection and introduction of new crops to diversify the production systems, the ICBA/FSC team developed farms, which had been selected after a survey and soil and water analyses by ICBA, at two levels: (i) Demonstration; and (ii) Model. The Demonstration farms were developed in small areas of 0.5 donums (0.05 ha) to represent different agricultural regions (Liwa, Madinat Zayed and Ghayathi) and different salinity levels (low 5-10, moderate 10-15 and high 15-20 dS m^-1 and above).

Three Demonstration farms were planted with different accessions of five winter forages (barley, fodder beet, safflower, mustard and quinoa) during October 2010 and continued up to February of the current year. The summer trial was carried out during May, using salt-tolerant varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, guar, cow pea and sesbania in all of the three Demonstration farms; crop were irrigated using water of salinity levels varying from 15.4-17.7 dS m^-1.

The Model farms, ranging from 23 to 40 donums (2.3-4.0 ha), were also proposed for the same regions and salinity levels, but on the whole farm-level (excluding date palm growing and livestock areas). The ICBA team prepared the planting and irrigation layout and measured soil salinity for the model farms for the three regions. After commissioning the irrigation systems in Madinat Zayed and Mezaira’a, four perennial salt-tolerant forages (Paspalum vaginatum, Distichlis spicata, Sporobolus virginicus and S. arabicus) were planted. These grasses were established at ICBA headquarter under field conditions and acclimatized with irrigation water of 30 dS m^-1. For transplanting, grass strips of 50 cm were removed with the soil, rolled and transported to the Western Region. The grasses were split with root systems and transplanted in the field.

Improving management practices leads to increased productivity in Iraq

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is funding a partnership between the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Iraqi representatives. The scope of the collaboration is to address the salinity problems impacting on agriculture in central and southern Iraq; however, trial sites have been established in similar areas in Syria. ICBA’s role in the project is to focus on crop improvement and production system management at the farm-level and as well supplied germplasm of salt-tolerant plants.

During the year, two trials were initiated at mirror sites in Deir-Azzor and Al-Dujaila in Syria.

1. Activity E1(B) and E2 evaluated summer forages (sorghum and pearl millet – ICBA-supplied salt-tolerant varieties and two local varieties), sesbania, guar and cowpea at Al-Dujaila (Wasit) at the salinity range of 10-20 dS m-1.Activity E1 researched the impact of salinity and boron content of irrigation water on the growth of winter cereals (wheat and barley) in Deir-Azzor in Syria as part of the Mirror Trial in Iraq. The trial focused on the need to improve production in wheat and barley cropping systems in soils with ECe values of 10-20 dS m-1. Preliminary results show that the plants exposed to the highest level of salinity indicated symptoms of boron toxicity on the first leaf of two of the cultivars of the tested crops, and the damage was greater for barley than wheat.
   
   
   
   
   Plate 4. Field trial in Deir-Azzor, Syria Symptoms of boron toxicity
   
   
2. The growth of these crops will be monitored during the trial. Additionally soil samples have been taken from five locations for two depths (0-50 and 50-100 cm) to determine the soil salinity. Ground water salinity is monitored monthly through peizometers at two locations.
   
   By assessing the salt distribution and its drivers, irrigation water salinity at different levels (farm, irrigation district, and river basin) at representative sites such as Wasit (Al-Dujaila), Babil (Al-Musaib), and Basra (Abu Al-Khaseeb), the research will inform methodologies for salinity control and productivity enhancement of saline water and salt-affected soils. In the long-term funding of additional research and mitigation strategies could be provided by ACIAR and a broader set of interested donors.
   

Enhancing crop-livestock productivity through the use of sorghum and pearl millet in WANA


Saline soils cover 5-10% of the world’s arable land; a percentage that continues to expand. Salinity is a major constraint to crop production, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, where low precipitation, high surface evaporation, irrigation with saline water, rising water tables, and poor irrigation practices generally increase the levels of soluble salts. A strategically important objective is to improve forage yield in harsh environments where the salinity of irrigation water is increasing constantly. Crop options provide less expensive, more sustainable solutions for enhancing the crop-livestock productivity of salinity-affected lands.

Both pearl millet and sorghum are two main fodder crops in the MENA region that have the potential role to fill the gaps in farm productivity and in a crop livestock system. In many salt-affected areas with reduced potential for the production of high value cash crops, the most viable option is to shift production to a forage livestock production system that can maintain farm productivity and improve income through the integration of forage production and a livestock system. Defining the salinity tolerance of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Br.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and establishing crop management systems can facilitate more productive and eco-efficient agriculture. The current project is a major selection program where ICBA and ICRISAT are following similar environments of selection on a large amount of genetic diversity. Through extensive screening and evaluation of more than 800 landraces, breeding lines, and varieties of the two crops for salinity tolerance and yield potential (both grain and fodder) under various levels of irrigation water with salinity up to 15 dS m^-1 (11,000 ppm), a nursery of each crop species containing 2530 genotypes with high potential for yield under saline conditions was identified and distributed to partnering countries.

The achievements in phase I in Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Syria and Tunisia have laid the foundation for larger on-farm trials, increased seed production, release and adoption of identified high-yielding and salinity-tolerant sorghum and pearl millet varieties and also set up the efficiency of genetic improvement for salinity tolerance for Phase II. During the second phase, ICBA, ICRISAT and the NARS Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Syria and Yemen have achieved the following:

Seed production and distribution
Based on ICBA and NARS evaluations, promising entries of twelve pearl millet and nine sorghum were selected. Six pearl millet and two sorghum entries were multiplied at ICBA and distributed among NARS for further seed multiplication and distribution among local farmers in each country. Selected genotypes were grown in isolation at ICBA and these produced 150 kg of sorghum and 260 kg of pearl millet seeds. Multiplied genotypes were distributed to NARS for adaptation studies under various environments of the WANA region. This new collection was also sent to NARS for on-station and on-farm evaluations.

Partnering countries extended considerable efforts in seed multiplication and field evaluation of all the plant materials provided by ICBA and ICRISAT. Scaling-up and farmers’ participation increased during 2011 to reach the target of 50 farmers in each country. Farmers participated in establishing the selection criteria and identifying the most promising genotypes for their targeted environments and field salinity levels. Genetic diversity of the newly introduced genotypes was equal to 60% and 90% for sorghum and pearl millet, respectively. Biological yield recorded was on average 50% higher for pearl millet compared to sorghum species. Indeed, averaged across all tested salinity levels, the advantage of pearl millet over sorghum were 18% higher leaf area and 25% heading beginning earlier. The best performing genotypes identified in the NARS showed high early vigor which allowed them to have high potential yield. This advantage found in controlled conditions was confirmed in field experiments and in on-farm trials. The average crude protein was equal to 13.5% which was within the acceptable level of forage quality for both species.

On-farm evaluation
Selected genotypes were assessed for forage productivity and quality in a series of 23 on-farm trials covering c.a. 30 ha over two growing seasons. The farmers’ survey covering 70 farmers showed that introducing salt-tolerant forage into the farmers' cropping systems improved the farming income by 20–30% compared to conventional practices. Harvested salt-tolerant fodders, cultivated using saline water, were analyzed to determine nutritive quality. Indeed, the harvested plants were intended to feed small ruminants. Two animal feeding experiments were set up in order to compare feed intake, growth performances, carcass characteristics and animal reproduction of indigenous lambs fed diets containing various levels of hay and silage of salt-tolerant pearl millet genotypes. Accordingly, a series of on-farm trials and lamb feeding experiments served as demonstration support for farmers.

Optimization of crop management systems
Optimization of crop management systems was achieved through a series of 10 field experiments across all countries with the aim of integrating diverse farming conditions as a parameter in the study. Crop management systems tested included various sowing densities, irrigation systems (furrow, drip, gated pipes and sprinkler), cutting systems (number and height), nitrogen and potassium fertilization (total amount to be applied, timing of applications, chemical formulation and physical form) and intercropping systems with annual crops and shrubs. Optimum levels of many input factors have been determined and are being transferred to farmers in the targeted regions.

Improving Integrated crop and seed production systems in SSA

An inter-disciplinary approach to improve the performance of small-scale irrigated farming systems of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries (Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal) should consider water quantity and quality, irrigation technologies/management, crop diversification, appropriate soil, water and nutrient management practices, and rural socio-economic aspects such as market linkage and value-chain development.


The multiple benefits for the SSA countries generated from such an approach would include improved sustainable agricultural production, improved water management for seed production for commercialization and diversification. By achieving a dependable supply of basic agricultural products, food security will be improved and sub-optimal migration from the farming communities minimized.


The NARS of the seven SSA countries, the Islamic Development Bank and International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) launched the endeavor in October 2011 in Dakar, Senegal. This four year project of US$1.2 million (IDB grant) with a contribution of US$0.8 million from the NARS has started in November 2011. The key outputs include (i) water resources database developed, (ii) Appropriate irrigation technology (ies) are identified, tested and transferred, (iii) packages of diversified crops indentified, demonstrated and evaluated, (iv) sustainable seed production for improving agricultural production, (v) profitability and impact of crop production related to different water/irrigation management practices on the livelihood of poor farmers assessed and quantified, and (vi) technology transfer and capacity building. During the first six-month, the project made a good progress, against agreed work plan, in data collection, testing and demonstrating some technologies in some countries, and a limited capacity building activities.

Developing sustainable water, rangelands and livestock management in CAC

Crop diversification and sustainable management of marginal land resources in three Central Asian countries (Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) is the focus of a four-year partnership involving ICBA, ICRISAT and ICARDA commencing in 2011.

To improve land productivity and livelihood of poor farmers living in salt-affected and degraded areas, dual-purpose pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench), two highly productive, nutritional early spring and summer crops, were introduced to fill existing gaps in grain and forage production in the Central Asian region. Socio-economic studies to provide sound costs/benefit estimates for all interventions, under realistic conditions of small farms, will be conducted.

In the second stage of desk studies the project team will evaluate the necessary institutional and legal changes to allow for production and marketing of sorghum and pearl millet by products. These measures will benefit small, remote, rural communities with limited land/water resources to ensure sustainable land use and provide additional income. Collaboration with farmer associations and the National Research Systems will guarantee implementation, whereas collaboration with academic research institutions will ensure the necessary data acquisition to allow out-scaling of project results to other Central Asian and Caucasus countries.

A Project Inception Workshop was held in Uzbekistan during June 14-16, 2011 to discuss the work plan and finalize first-year activities to commence July 1, 2011 in 2-3 sites in each country.

The seed of sorghum and pearl millet were produced by ICBA in collaboration with ICRISAT and sent to the CAC partners. In addition, local varieties of the same forage crops were also included in the trial.

Improving Livelihoods of Rural Communities in Saline Desert Environments

Extreme drought and high temperature extremes coupled with rapid expansion of irrigated agriculture and intensification of human activities have severely impacted the dryland ecosystem of Turkmenistan. These impacts include major deterioration of the fertile arable lands, natural pastures, riparian and foothills forest leading to desertification including soil salinization and waterlogging; a situation exacerbated by climate change. Currently huge areas of long-term irrigated agricultural lands and sandy desert rangelands in Turkmenistan have deteriorated into marginal salinized/waste unproductive lands. The availability of fresh irrigation water in these marginal areas has inevitably declined because of increasing demand from agricultural and non-agricultural users.

Partnering with the Institute of Desert Flora and Fauna and Ministry of Nature Protection, in Turkmenistan, ICBA investigated in 2011 the efficiency of non-conventional water use in agri-silvi-horticultural and silvi-pastoral systems to meet the food and feed demands and develop adaptation strategies for farming communities vulnerable to climate change and water resources shortage. For farmers to generate additional income, the project team considered alternative uses of land such as the reclamation of marginal lands by using non-conventional water for irrigation (drainage, surface rainfall water, salinized underground water) and the introduction and evaluation of biosaline technologies.

Located in the Amudarya River Delta, Dashauz region, Northern Turkmenistan, the Dashauz Experimental Plot typifies newly irrigated sandy desert land, which is severely affected by salinization, with a shallow water table (141-182 cm) and low quality surface water (11-20 dS m-1) available for irrigation.

The seeds of 14 salt conventional and non-conventional tolerant crops were sown during May. Seed germination of about 68-72% was noted for flux, chickpea, holy clover, alfalfa, and Amaranthus. Tests of sorghum germplasm from ICBA accessions showed significant advantage both in seasonal growth rate and plants’ height in comparison with the local variety. The pearl millet germplasm from ICBA exhibited about 30% more dry yield and 25% seeds than local varieties. The analysis and monitoring of soil salinity, water table depth, irrigation and drainage water quality is being continued.

At the Akdepe site, promising results from the farm evaluation were obtained for ICBA dual-purpose sorghum (4 varieties), pearl millet (4 varieties) and two (Eureka and Sceptre - third generation) alfalfa varieties as compared with local varieties.