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Investigation of an alternative cropping system on former arid and semi-arid rangelands in the Golestan province, Iran (ARIAN)
Project
Project code: 2816DOKI04
Contract period: 01.09.2017
- 31.01.2021
Budget: 109,981 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: cultivation, barley, irrigation, crop production, local supply, grassland, resource protection, resource efficiency, grasses, wild plants, feed crop production
Over the last few decades, the clear majority of rangelands in north-eastern Iran have been converted to agricultural dryland farming. Unfortunately, due to inappropriate management practices, overgrazing and land use changes, today, most of this agricultural land has become exhausted and is now in danger of desertification, jeopardizing the food supply of local people. Climate change models regarding Iran illustrate that this country will become even dryer in the future due to global warming impacts. Considering the high importance of soils, water, rangelands and forests as infrastructural pillars of every country, employing appropriate management programs or adaptation measures in these areas is of vital importance. This project intends to develop innovative measures via a scientific research cooperation between Germany and Iran. The project’s aim is to improve yields, food and forage production by improving the soil’s chemical and physical structure. These measures are directed at coping with the negative consequences of soil degradation and climate change, factors that exacerbate soil destruction. Our final objective is to establish a permanent plant vegetation cover, producing grain and forage throughout the year. It is assumed this project will result in improved local food supply. Implementing innovative cropping systems is a necessary adaptive approach to climate change impacts, counteracting the negative consequences of climate change. The approach of this project is to study the annual crop rotation of one native grass species (Salsola turcomanica) and one non-native grass species (Chrysopogon zizanioides). Thus far, these plants have not been considered as alternative forage plants for this region. In rotation with barley, both plants have a high salt and drought tolerance, producing forage for feeding livestock as well as cereal for human consumption.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
- Agroecology
- Soil science
- Climate Change
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)
