1. Water Resources and Desert Soils Division

2. Ecology and Dry Land Agriculture Division Rangeland improvment

3. Animal and Poultry production Division

4. Socioeconomic Studies Division

1. water Resources and Desert Soils Division

Data was collected from over 350 wells in the west Delta and management practices recommended

New aquifers in the Eastern Desert (Wadi Araba, Wadi Dara, and Wadi El-Nakhrel), Baharia Oasis, and the Red Sea region have been discovered, explored and evaluated.  

Wheat yield was increased by using fertigation, reducing fertilizers by over 25% in Nabaria and EI-Khatatba, while labor costs were also reduced by 25% Recommended irrigation methods reduced water losses and increased irrigation efficiency while at the same time reducing salinity around the root zone in newly reclaimed lands. Performance and yield of cereals, sugar beets, and other crops have been improved by the use of sulfur and soil amendments to reclaim and develop desert soils irrigated with saline water

The main factors limiting soil productivity, including tillage operations, the supply of various nutrients, soil water relationships, and appropriate cropping patterns, have been identified and apprcpriate management practices demonstrated.

New lands productivity was increased through maximizing the profitability from agricultural wastes. New techniques have been applied for using non-traditional manures

Large areas in the Eastern and Western Deserts in the Sinai have been studied at reconnaissance and semi-detailed levels (8,334,170 and 2,603,530 feddans, respectively). Soils potentially suitable for reclamation were 3,855,790 and 1,684,756 feddans at the reconnaissance and semi-detailed levels, respectively.                         Top

2. Ecology and Dry Land Agriculture Division Rangeland improvment

Natural rangelands of the Sinai Peninsula have been evaluated for their potential. Native and exotic annual legumes were introduced, and appropriate agricultural practices for rain-fed conditions studied.

Rangeland productivity along the northwestern coast has been improved with the transplanting of approximately 1,000,000 Acacia saligna and Atriplex nummularia seedlings. Thirty tons of palatabe legume seeds were sown to form an undergrowth for these trees and shrubs

A 1OO feddan propagation farm has been established in Burg El-Arab

Appropriate seedlings have been transplanted for use in biological drainage in the Siwa Oasis. The high transpiration rates of these trees, shrubs grasses, and forage crops help get rid of excess groundwater

Sand Dune Fixation:

wind screens have been set up to protect the eastern fringes of the Siwa Oasis from sand encroachment Chemical mechanical and biological methods have been employed.

A program for the construction of a road protected from sand encroachment between El-Farafra Oasis and the Qarawin Plain has been completed.

Horticultural and Field Crops:

New date palm and olive cultivars have been introduced to north Sinai

Model farms for date palm and olive, particulary manzaneIlo and koratena cultivars, have been established in the Sinai at Rafah, EI-Arish, Ras Sudr; Wadi Gharandal, and El-Tor

Medicinal and aromatic plants of the Sinai were surveyed and evaluated for their economicaly important chemical constituents. Groups of these plants were introduced along the northwestern coast in Wadi El-Natrun, and the Sinai.

Agricultural practices aimed at increasing the produdivity of forage crops, cereals, oil crops, and vegetabes in newly recaimed lands were researched.

With the cooperation ot the ARC Field Crops Research Institute, wheat cultivars are propagated under same irngation conditions at Ras Sudr Experimental Station.

Plant Production:

Vegetable varieties resistant to salinity and drought have been identified.

Guidelines have been established for the use of water in desert areas.

Sources of pollution have been identified, and the effects of this pollution on common vegetables growing in these areas have been determined.

Training courses have been held for agricultural engineers working in desert areas.

Promising fruit cultivars have been introduced to newly cultivated areas.

Fruit plants which grow naturally in desert conditions have been evaluated for their use in improving existing strains.

Plant Ecology:

Forage production has been increased for desert areas

New range plants have been domesticated under desert conditions.

The DRC played an important partnership role in many projects of national interest, including the biological drainage project in Siwa, the range improvement project in South Sinai, and the range improvement project in the northwest coast

Plant Genetic resources:

Intercropping with domesticated natural plants to achieve a suitable diet for animals has been established.

Exotic plants which are hardy under desert conditions have been introduced.

Cytogenetic indicators for salt tolerance and other stress conditions have been identified

Seed-hardening before sowing for some varieties of wheat and barley with a dilute solution of CaCI2 and ZnSo4 was recommended.

Physical (gamma ray) and chemical mutagens (ethylamine) were introduced to induce genetic variables and select lines adaptable to saline conditions.                                                                                      Top

3. Animal and Poultry production Division

Produdion of stud Barki rams (1982-1986) in Nahda (El-Hamam) proved to be successful. Three groups of improved stud rams were distributed to breeders in the north coastal belt of the Western Desert.

Production of forage plants and development of animal production on the High Dam Lake shores (1985-1989) was accomplished. This project aimed at producing suitabe varieties of annual and perennial fodder plants after recession of flood waters.

Non-traditonal feed produdion based on organic wastes, such as agro-industrial by products, crop residues, food processing wastes and animal wastes, has been introduced.

Improved pasture and animal performance In North Sinai and the north coasta belt of the Western Desert (1985 and onwards) was accomplished.

A grading system of Barki wool for industrial use was developed

Biogas (natural gas) and feed ingredients from anaerobic fermented manure of sheep and goats were produced.

Renewable energy resources such as biogas, and feed supplements from recycling animal wastes have been introduced.                                                           Top

 4. Socioeconomic Studies Division

Basic socioeconomic and technical indicators for investment were determined to help in achieving a viable redistribution of the population to desert regions maps were provided for investors including these indicators as well as the location and quality of natural resources                                                                                         Top