2013-2014 Achievements managing agro-pastoral

rangelands in Jordanian Badia

Mounir Louhaichi & Rana Muhaisen,

Activity summariesActivity Location Achievements Potential impact

Promoting spineless cactus as a multi-purpose species in the dry areas

ErakMchaqqar

- Introduction of new germplasm from Mexico, Tunisia, Italy, and Brazil- Dissemination at farm level- Adoption study initiated- Field day- Factsheet

- At least 25 farmers had already planted cactus as a crop- Additional farmers are expected to adopt this practice- Additional income due to selling of fruits and/or saving in commercial feed resources

Introduction of alley- cropping and/or inter cropping

ErakMajdyaMchaqqar

- Sites have been identified- Seedlings were produced and transplanted in the field (on station and on farm)

- 15% increase in forage resources- Adoption of alley cropping practices

Evaluation of the effect of WHT on vegetation cover and productivity on drought-resistant shrubs

Majdya (IWLM Program)

Measurement (data collection is complete)

- Alleviate water and soil erosions- Increased rangeland productivity

Activity summariesActivity Location Achievements Potential impact

Sustainable intensification of low lands in pastoral ecosystems

Majdya -Site selected-WHT established-Testing dual purpose barley accessions

- 30% increase in forage resources- Biodiversity conservation

Restoration of salt affected rangelands

Jordan - Assessment of selected halophytes under different salinity levels

- Restoration of salt affected soils (Sebkha) in MENA region

Capacity building NARS partners in Jordan

Group training courses Field daysStudentsVisiting scientists (ARIs)

- Dissemination of technology at wider scale (training of trainers)- Higher adoption by farmers

Characteristics of Pastoral Ecosystems in JordanCauses of rangeland degradation

Consequences

Erak - Karak Majidya - Mhareb

TIPO

Solutions

Cactus: a promising species

Country of Origin No

Italy 46Brazil 25Tunisia 24Mexico 13Algeria 9Morocco 6New Mexico 6Argentina 4Others 18

Total 151

Enhancing the use of cactus (Opuntia focus indica) to promote better livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in arid areas of West Asia

Cactus accessions were introduced from to JordanA new shipment is on the way from Brazil

Establishment of cactus gene field bank at NCARE Mchaqqar station with more than 150 accessions

Enhancing the use of cactus (Opuntia focus indica) to promote better livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the dry areas

Dissemination of cactus pads to farmers in Erak

Erak - Jordan

Research Experiments on Cactus pear

The Influence of soil volume (Root Confinement) on root and canopy growth, root turnover and canopy versus root ratio of Opuntia ficus-indica

The influence of planting methods of Opuntia ficus-indica on root and canopy growth, root turnover and canopy – root ratio

Adoption study for cactus in Erak (SEPRP & Jutta)

Suitability map for outscaling cactus in West Asia (Geo-informatics, Sawsan and Kathryn)

Rangeland Rehabilitation through WHT & Shrub Plantations

Erak SiteJordan

Sustainable intensification of lowlands in pastoral ecosystems

Alley-cropping Practices

• Water harvesting• Shrub plantation• Introduction of forage legumes

December 2013

February 2014

November 2013 January 2014

September 2014

Sustainable intensification of lowlands in pastoral ecosystems

May 2014

Kochia prostrata Mariana brevifolia Atriplex nummularia

Salsola vermiculata Atriplex halimus

For salt affected soils:Selecting salt tolerant fodders...

Atriplex lentiformis

Restoration of salt affected rangelands

Restoration of salt affected rangelands

Assessment of salinity tolerance mechanisms of selected halophytes under different salinity levels in Jordan

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2

4

6

8

10

12

14Total Dry Weight (kg)

Low salinity High salinity

From this… …to this.

Approach: No quick fix solutions (time/space) Multidisciplinary approach Farmers, agronomists, animal nutritionists,

ecologists, hydrologists and economists

Collaboration with IWLM Program:

Evaluation of the effect of water harvesting interventions on vegetation cover and productivity on drought-resistant shrubs in Majidyya - Jordan

Mapping and monitoring rangeland vegetation using latest technology

LIDAR: LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING

Group training courses- Agro-ecological monitoring- Alley cropping

Field days- Cactus- Grazing management

Students- 2 MSc and 1 PhD - 1 internship

Visiting scientists (ARIs)- Paolo Inglese (U of Palermo - Italy)- Douglas Johnson (OSU – USA)- Steve Petersen (BYU - USA)- Robert Washington (U of Tennessee – USA)

Capacity Building

Group training course on agro ecological monitoring

Capacity Building

Group Training on Agro-Forestry PracticesAlley Cropping

Capacity Building

Hima

The Amman Declaration on Innovating Hima - May 2014

Hima is a comprehensive package of governance, conservation, science and markets that builds on and reinforces social, cultural and human capital.

Reinforcing best-bet grazing practices (DSIPS & IWLM)

http://drylandsystems.cgiar.org/content/reinforcing-best-bet-grazing-practices

Investing in Rangelands: Agro-Ecological monitoring of Jordanian ‘action sites’

http://drylandsystems.cgiar.org/content/investing-rangelands-agro-ecological-monitoring-jordanian-%E2%80%98action-sites%E2%80%99#sthash.KfxCvj3R.dpuf