PROTECTED
AGRICULTUE
- GH Structure
> Water Use Effeciency
> IPPM
>Work Plan
Highlight intensity and temperature, combined with high relative humidity, characterizes the climate in the Arabian Peninsula region. The PA structures that are widely used in the region are those that have been developed to suit cool-weather countries with low light intensity. There is a great need to develop a simple greenhouse structure suitable for the region's climate with more efficient ventilation and cooling systems.
Research points:
| • | Greenhouse structure. | |
| • | Covering materials. | |
| • | Ventilation and cooling systems. |
- Output:
|
Simple greenhouse structures and
covering materials suitable for the region's climate, with more
efficient ventilation and cooling system.
|
- Activities:
| 1. | Introduction of simple protected agriculture production techniques under terrace farming conditions in Yemen through the use of water harvesting. | |
| 2. | Evaluate different types of cooling systems (existing and newly designed) and experiments on improved cooling systems (evaporative cooling) that are more efficient, can be locally manufactured, are cost effective, easy to manage and suitable for brackish water use. | |
| 3. | Agro-economic evaluation of greenhouse crop production for short season in greenhouse with ventilation only, versus year-round production in greenhouse with cooling system. |
Water Use Efficiency
Water, both in quality and quantity, is one of the major limiting factors for the development of agriculture in general and PA in particular in the region. Successful production of high-value crops from greenhouses requires good-quality water that in many cases is produced from desalination units at a high cost. Current growing systems and irrigation techniques are detrimental to the water-use efficiency.
Research points:
| • | Adaptation of soilless culture techniques | |
| • | Improve the efficiency of the drip irrigation system | |
| • | Identification of the crop water-requirements | |
| • | Automation of irrigation systems. |
- Output:
Improved irrigation systems for increased water use efficiency, and adapted soil-less cultivation systems and techniques.
- Activities:
| 1. | Adaptation or modification of new technology to improve the existing irrigation and fertigation systems with the aim of reducing water and fertilizer wastage. | |
| 2. | Adaptation of soil-less cultivation systems and comparison with the conventional soil system for efficiency, management, cost and suitability for different parts of the region. UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen. | |
| 3. | Study the economics and techniques of producing transplants in centralized nurseries using soil-less techniques Use of Recycled Water (treated Waste Water) in irrigation and cooling system for the production of vegetable crops. |
Integrated Production and Protection Management
The greenhouse environment can be characterized as warm and humid with low air velocities. This ideal condition for plants also provides a thriving condition for pests and diseases. Pests and diseases are in competition with the growers since most greenhouse crops are of a high commercial value--any slight damage can result in a significant reduction in the market value. The extensive use of chemicals to control diseases and pests results in complicated problems of resistance build-up, and health and environment hazards. Also, natural enemies have been killed along with the pests (by non-target-specific chemicals). A healthy plant is usually able to withstand pest attack better than a stressed one. This can be achieved by applying other control measures that reduces the use of hazardous chemicals.
- Output:
Improved integrated production and protection (IPP) management practices that ensure strong healthy plants with adequate protection from pests and diseases, using safe control practices with minimal use of chemicals.
- Activities:
| 1. | Surveys--to permit prioritization of different
activities related to IPP of crops in Protected Agriculture, it is
essential to conduct the following surveys:
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| 2. | Practical Application of solar power (solarization) for green house sterilization. | |||||||
| 3. | Experiments to Identify & Optimize IPPM inputs. i.e. Irrigation, ventilation, structure, culture practices, IPM, natural & biological agents and cooling. | |||||||
| 4. | Compare pesticide residue with respect to Max. Residue Level (MRL) in the plant products as well as in the drainage water in greenhouses where IPPM is being practiced as compared to farmers greenhouses where IPPM practices are not being followed. |
< GH Structure
- Water Use Effeciency
> IPPM
>Work Plan
< GH Structure
< Water Use Effeciency
- IPPM
>Work Plan
< GH Structure
< Water Use Effeciency
< IPPM
- Work Plan
| PROTECTED AGRICULTURE |
| Objective 3: | Development of more efficient and sustainable protected agriculture production systems |
| Output 1: | Simple greenhouse structures and covering materials suitable for the region's climate, with more efficient ventilation and cooling system. |
Activities:
1.1. Evaluation of Cucumber production under non-cooled Greenhouse covered with insect proof net.
| Participating Countries | Oman |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Muthir AL Rawahy, Fatma AL Raisy, Salim AL Makhmary |
1.2. Agro economic assessment of different crops under cooled and non-cooled greenhouse.
| Participating Countries | Oman, Qatar |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Oman: Muthir
AL Rawahy, Fatma AL Raisy, Salim AL Makhmary Qatar: Hamdy El-Doweny, Hassan Abu Sukkar and Khalid Amer |
1.3. Evaluation of different types of Green house cooling systems.
| Participating Countries | Kuwait |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Mohammad AL-Harbi |
| Output 2: | Improved
irrigation systems for increased water use efficiency, and adapted
soil-less cultivation systems and techniques. |
Activities:
2.1. Vertical hydroponics system for the production of strawberries.
| Participating Countries | Bahrain, Oman , Saudi Arabia |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Bahrain: Isam
Mustafa Abdul Razaq Oman: Muthir AL Rawahy, Fatma AL Raisy, Salim AL Makhmary Saudi Arabia: Abdullah Shanqiti |
2.2. Adaptation of soilless growing techniques (open and closed system) for the production of vegetable
crops with different media
| Participating Countries | Oman |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Muthir AL Rawahy, Fatma AL Raisy, Salim AL Makhmary |
| Output 3: | Improved integrated production and protection (IPP) management practices that ensure strong healthy plants with adequate protection from pests and diseases, using safe control practices with minimal use of chemicals. |
Activities:
3.1. Implementation of Integrated Production and Protection Management (IPPM) program in research station and farmers conditions.
| Participating Countries | Kuwait, Yemen |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Kuwait: Maher
Al-Hunaidi, M. Fadel, M. Riad, E. Al-Saeed, A. Abdul Kareem, H.
Al Jomaah, N. Al Meshwit, J. Al Galaaf and Mashaer Al Manaani Oman: Wagieh Al-Mutawakel, Amin Al-Kirshi, A. Al-Gafari and Khaled Al-Kirshi |
3.2. Soil Solarization under protected agriculture on farmers fields and under research station condition.
| Participating Countries | Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Kuwait: Maher
Al-Hunaidi, M. Fadel, M. Riad, E. Al-Saeed, A. Abdul Kareem, H.
Al Jomaah, N. Al Meshwit, J. Al Galaaf and Mashaer Al Manaani Qatar: Hamdy El-Doweny, Hamad El-Anzy, Khalid Amer Yemen: M. Dalas, M. Aesa, A.Kirshi and N. Ragihi |
3.3. Using organic fertilizer for Production of vegetable crops under Green house condition.
| Participating Countries | Bahrain, Kuwait |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Bahrain: Isam
Mustafa Abdul Razaq Kuwait: Nabil Naser, Jala Al-Langawi |
3.4. Effect of certain package of pest management against major pests and diseases of straw berry
grown in mixed culture (peat moss and perlite) media in a vertical system under green hall.
3.5. Efficacy of certain materials as bio-rational pesticides for the control of major pests and diseases on Sweet melon varieties grown under green house conditions with cooling system.
3.6. Effect of certain packages of pest management against major pests and diseases of cucumber
grown in soil less culture (sand media) open system under cooling green house conditions.
3.7. Evaluation of tomato cultivars against whitefly and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) in green house.
| Participating Countries | Oman |
| ICARDA Scientist(s) | Ahmed Moustafa |
| Contact Scientists | Saeed Razfy; Rashid AL Shidy; Najma AL Zadjaly; Ahmed AL Mandhary; Ibtihal AL Raisy; Naila AL Selaemy |
| Output 4: | Information technology & networking. Regional networking mechanism that maximizes the collaboration among researchers, scientists and extension staff in various countries and exchange of knowledge, information and expertise regionally and internationally. |
Activities:
4.1. Up dating the APRP website.