West Asia North Africa Region Research Articles

On Academic Research, Legitimacy, and Fieldwork in Times of Crisis

In thinking through the stark differences in how a research project in Lebanon was received in 2018 versus 2020, this paper seeks to reflect on the fragile relationship between academic researcher and community, on the legitimacy of research in moments of crisis, and on the complexity of pursuing decolonial research in the contemporary West Asia North Africa region.

Fertilizer Best Management Practices: A Perspective from the Dryland West Asia–North Africa Region

AbstractChemical fertilizer use has contributed significantly to increased global food output in the past half century, especially in climatically favourable regions of the world. However, in drier agro‐ecological zones, such as in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) with a Mediterranean‐type climate, fertilizer use has been low but has increased rapidly in the past few decades. Chemical fertilizer use is now widely adopted in rainfed and irrigated agriculture. As elsewhere, fertilizer use is underpinned by concerns about biological and economic efficiency. Fertilizer use efficiency is central to the current concept of fertilizer best management practices (FBMP), which embraces right source, right place, right timing and right application method. In this brief review, we highlight such FBMP concepts as related to agriculture of the WANA region, with emphasis on the key nutrients for crop production. Rainfall has a dominant influence on dryland crop yields. Nitrogen (N) use efficiency increases with increasing rainfall and is influenced by crop rotation. Under rainfed conditions, modest N losses by volatilization can occur. Leaching losses are usually minimal. Phosphorus use (P) efficiency is higher with band application than with broadcasting. Balanced fertilization, especially involving potassium (K) and micronutrients, is fundamental to efficient nutrient use. Fertilizer efficiency is also influenced by soil test values and agronomic factors that influence crop yields, e.g. sowing date and varietal differences. Rational fertilizer application rates are guided by calibration–response trials. Effective fertilizer use in the region is also dictated by external factors such as government policies and a functioning extension service. In contrast to other regions of the world, environmental impacts from the overuse of fertilizers are relatively minor, while developments in fertilizer formulations that promote efficiency have yet to have impact. Despite the relatively low fertilizer use intensity in dryland areas such as the WANA region, the FBMP comprehensive approach is a logical framework within which to achieve the most efficient management and use of fertilizer in the region’s agriculture.

Optimizing wheat productivity in two rain-fed environments of the West Asia–North Africa region using a simulation model

The performance of a crop simulation model (agricultural production systems simulator model, APSIM-Nwheat) was tested using data obtained from several locations in the rain-fed environments of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) in Morocco and Jordan. The model was able to simulate wheat grain yields reasonably well except at one site in one season in Morocco. The model was subsequently used to analyze the effect of soil type (soil water-holding capacity), rate and timing of nitrogen (N) fertiliser, initial soil moisture storage, cultivars (early versus late), sowing dates and density and supplemental irrigation (SI) in optimizing wheat production using 20 years of historical weather records from Morocco. The simulation indicated that yields were often limited by the amount and timing of rainfall. While the effect of N fertiliser was minimal or detrimental in dry years, it improved grain yields in wet years and when crops were sown early combined with pre-sown stored plant available water in the soil. The analysis showed that early sowing is important for achieving high yields by avoiding terminal water deficit. There is little difference between grain yields when current practice of about 300 plants/m 2 was compared with a density of 150 plants/m 2. This implies that there is scope for reducing current planting density to save seeds without reducing yields. The simulation analysis highlighted that 40 mm of SI at sowing significantly improved average grain yields as a result of enabling early crop establishment, in particular with a N fertiliser application of 40 kg N/ha. The analysis indicated that wheat grain yields in the arid and semi-arid rain-fed regions of WANA can be improved compared to current yield levels by adjusting N management to soil type, pre-sowing soil water availability, sowing opportunity and the availability of SI.

Carbon sequestration in dryland ecosystems of West Asia and North Africa

AbstractThe West Asia–North Africa (WANA) region has a land area of 1.7 billion ha, and a population of 600 million. Desertification and soil degradation are severe problems in the region. The problem of drought stress is exacerbated by low and erratic rainfall and soils of limited available water holding capacity and soil organic carbon (SOC) content of less than 0.5 per cent. The SOC pool of most soils has been depleted by soil degradation and widespread use of subsistence and exploitative farming systems. The historic loss of a SOC pool for the soils of the WANA region may be 6–12 Pg compared with the global loss of 66–90 Pg. Assuming that 60 per cent of the historic loss can be resequestered, the total soil‐C sink capacity of the WANA region may be 3–7 Pg. This potential may be realized through adoption of measures to control desertification, restore degraded soils and ecosystems, and improve soil and crop management techniques that can enhance the SOC pool and improve soil quality. The strategies of soil‐C sequestration include integrated nutrient management (INM) and recycling, controlled grazing, and growing improved fodder species on rangeland. Improved technologies for cropland include use of INM and biofertilizers, appropriate tillage methods and residue management techniques, crop rotations and cover crops, and water and nutrient recycling technologies. Through adoption of such measures, the potential of soil‐C sequestration in the WANA region is 0.2–0.4 Pg C yr−1. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Yield performance and adaptation of some Australian and CIMMYT/ICARDA developed wheat genotypes in the West Asia North Africa (WANA) region

A set of 29 advanced breeding lines and named cultivars from different breeding programs in Australia was compared with 18 genotypes developed by the CIMMYT/ICARDA breeding programs for their adaptation and yield performance using 5 locations in the WANA region for 2 years. Classification analysis identified 13 CIMMYT/ICARDA genotypes that had a pattern in yield performance similar to 2 Australian cultivars, Leichhardt and Hartog. The classification of environments effectively identified trials that experienced heat stress and received supplementary irrigation. Most of the genotypes developed by the CIMMYT/ICARDA breeding programs showed wide adaptation in the WANA region. Genotypes developed for Australian Mediterranean environments failed to show wide adaptation in the WANA region. However, many Australian genotypes showed specific adaptation to heat-stressed environments. Variation among Australian genotypes for disease resistance and heat tolerance couldbe used for wheat improvement in the WANA region.

PROPORTION OF TOTAL NITROGEN AND FIXED NITROGEN IN SHOOTS OF LENTIL AND CHICKPEA GROWN IN A MEDITERRANEAN-TYPE ENVIRONMENT

Shoot dry matter yield, shoot nitrogen yield and amount of nitrogen derived from fixation are collated for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cv. ILC482 and lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) cv. ILL8 grown at the ICARDA research station Tel Hadya, Syria over a period of 17 years. Regression analyses of shoot nitrogen yield on shoot dry matter and of the amount of nitrogen fixed on shoot nitrogen yield were undertaken for both species. The intercepts for both analyses with lentil were not significantly different from zero, so the slopes of the lines represented the concentration of nitrogen in the plant tissue (20.6 g kg−1 dry matter) and the proportion of nitrogen derived from fixation 0.75. Data for other cultivars of lentil grown at Tel Hadya and at four other locations in Syria fell within the 95% confidence limits of the original analyses. The intercept of the regression of shoot nitrogen yield on shoot dry matter yield for chickpea grown at Tel Hadya was not significantly different from zero, so the concentration of nitrogen in the plant tissue was constant (17.8 g kg−1 dry matter). The proportion of nitrogen derived from fixation increased asymptotically as the shoot nitrogen yield increased. Data for other cultivars of chickpea grown in different locations were generally similar to those for cv. ILC482 grown at Tel Hadya. It is proposed that generalized relationships between shoot nitrogen yield and shoot dry matter yield, and between amount of nitrogen fixed and shoot nitrogen yield can be established for lentil and chickpea grown in the West Asia–North Africa region. Consequently the amounts of nitrogen fixed by the two crops could be predicted from a knowledge of dry matter production alone.

Networks for Research Collaboration in the Dryland West Asia-North Africa Region

The goal of the international agricultural research system, under the auspices of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), is to improve agricultural production and alleviate hunger and malnutrition in developing regions of the world. In each of the research centers worldwide, the focus is on strategic applied and adaptive research in conjunction with scientists in the various national programs in their respective mandate zones. A network approach to communication is widely used to facilitate the flow of information and ideas and strengthen the partnership between centers and national researchers. Networks can be formal or informal, permanent or temporary, and expand or contract in response to the availability and fluctuations of funding. This article primarily describes three networks that represent a cross-section of those operated by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Aleppo, Syria. Unique features of the Soil Fertility Network (SFN) are on-farm soil test calibration trials, regular workshops and proceedings, while the International Legume Inoculation Network (INONET) provides inoculum of Rhizobium and sponsors training courses. The Dryland Pasture and Forage Legume Network (DPFLN) is more management-oriented and publishes a newsletter. Despite current and regrettable shortfalls in funding by donor agencies, networks will continue to be a vital system of communication among collaborating researchers.