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Runoff Farming in the Desert. III. Microcatchments for Improvement of Desert Range 1
Author(s) -
Shanan L.,
Tadmor N. H.,
Evenari M.,
Reiniger P.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1970.00021962006200040004x
Subject(s) - surface runoff , atriplex , agronomy , environmental science , pasture , yield (engineering) , desert (philosophy) , annual plant , hydrology (agriculture) , biology , ecology , geology , philosophy , materials science , geotechnical engineering , epistemology , metallurgy
A technique of utilizing surface runoff from microcatchments was adapted to grow pasture shrubs ( Atriplex halimus L.) on a barren saline loessial plain in the desert. The average annual rainfall of the region is about 90 mm. Microcatchments varied in size from 16 m 2 to 1,000 m 2 . Maximum yields were obtained from a 32 m 2 microcatchment which produced an average annual yield of 160 feed units/ha/yr, as compared to 5 to 10 feed units/ha, on the untreated plain. Protein yield was about 40 kg/ha. The system costs $5 to 20 per ha to construct and can repay its construction cost within 2 to 3 years. The method is also being adapted to the growing of fruit trees.