Program for the Development and Dissemination of Sustainable Irrigation Management in Olive Growing (IRRIGAOLIVO) (CFC/IOOC/06)

Transcription

1 Program for the Development and Dissemination of Sustainable Irrigation Management in Olive Growing (IRRIGOLIVO) (CFC/IOOC/06) Progress Report (uly - December 2010) Contact: Dr. Fadi Karam, Project Coordinator ICRD, P.O. Box 5466, leppo, Syria Tel: Fax: mail: f.karam@cgiar.org 1

2 Table of Contents 1. General information 3 2. xecutive summary 4 3. Period activities: objectives and goals 5 4. Detailed period activities and progress against work plan 7. Morocco 7 B. Syria pcoming events and plan of action for next quarter (anuary-march 2011) 25 nnex 1: The project first year work plan (une 2010 May 2011) per component 27 2

3 1. General information Project name: Program for the Development and Dissemination of Sustainable Irrigation Management in Olive Growing (IRRIGOLIVO) (CFC/IOOC/06) Supervisory body: International Olive Council (IOC) Financing body: Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) Counterparts: General Commission for Scientific gricultural Research (GCSR) in Syria Institut ational de la Recherche gronomique (IR) in Morocco. Project xecuting gency: International Center for gricultural Research in the Dry reas (ICRD) Technical Consultants: Instituto de gricultura Sostenible (IS-CSIC), Spain and Istituto per i Sistemi gricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo (CR-ISFOM) Project Cost: 1,431, S$ CFC contribution: 799, S$ Counterparts contribution: 631, Project duration: 48 months Goals: The main goal of the project is to increase the revenues of olive farmers by increasing production through the adoption of advanced irrigation management. The specific goals of the project are to (i) to increase yield of olive groves in the target areas by using advanced irrigation strategies; (ii) minimize yearly fluctuations in yield, and securing more stable farm income and (iii) increase water productivity of irrigated olive in the target countries. Rational: (i) reduction of production fluctuations & production costs; (ii) generation of higher incomes for small producers; (iii) modernization of the whole olive oil production system; (iv) improvement of agronomic techniques; (v) adoption of more modern processing techniques and (vi) sustainability for olive tree and oil production. Outputs: (1) Demonstration of the potential of advanced irrigation for increasing olive yield above current levels in rainfed olive groves and in conventionally irrigated groves; (2) Demonstration of the potential of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) for increasing production under irrigation with a limited water supply; (3) Demonstration of a) the advantages of irrigation on the quality of olive fruits and b) the lack of detrimental effects on the quality of olive oil; (4) Dissemination & training based on the new information on olive irrigation management obtained in the regions where pilot plots are established. 3

4 2. xecutive summary The second semester of 2010 witnessed the implementation of a number of IRRIGOLIV activities in Morocco and Syria, in line with the 2010 work plan for each country. This also included a field visit to Daraa xperimental Station and Olive Groves in Southern Syria in October meeting was held at the General Commission for Scientific gricultural Research (GCSR) in Damascus on Sunday 24 October 2010 within the frame activity of the project, to which participated ng. idal ouni, the project Focal Point, and ng. Ghassan boud from the Directorate of atural Resources Management of GCSR and Dr. Fadi Karam (Project Coordinator at ICRD). The scope of the meeting was to assess the progress of activity implementation in Daraa xperimental Station during the current 2010 irrigation season (- OCT 2010) and to discuss future activities based on the work plans. The Damascus meeting of Sunday 24 th October was followed on Monday 25 th October by a visit to Daraa xperimental Station of the GCSR in Southern Syria, to which also participated Dr. Theib Oweis, Director of IWLMP-ICRD and ng. Pierre Hayek (IWLMP-ICRD), where the group met with ng. Hussein Katama, Director of Daraa xperimental Station, as well as the IRRIGOLIV support team in the said station, namely Mohammed Hayek, Hussam Khalili and Feras l yesh, all being agricultural engineers. The scope of the visit was to meet with the project support team at Daraa xperimental Station and to discuss achievements and progress in the implementation of the different activities of IRRIGOLIV project, as well to visit the farmer s olive groves in Tafas that are used as pilot plots in the project. Dr. Mohammed Karrou (IWLMP-ICRD) visited Marrakesh in 28 anuary - 6 February 2011 to follow up on research activities conducted in Irrigation of olive trees with the Moroccan support team in the project: L. Sikaoui (ational coordinator), loualkadi, Idrissi (Tessaout station manager), Karam (Saada, station manager). Dr. Karrou has been visiting both Tessaout and Saada experimental stations. Irrigation nets were installed and new olive trees were planted in Saada. niform irrigation was applied on young trees to ensure the establishment of the seedlings. In Tessaout, one plot was plowed to trim the old roots and stimulate the development and growth of young and active roots in the top layers of the soil. This will probably help adapting drip irrigation on old trees. Irrigation treatments will start in spring. On the other hand, an advanced training course on Innovative methods and tools of irrigation management of olive trees is going to be held at IR, Marrakech, during March The advanced training will address theoretical and practical approaches, and will count on good teaching material specifically produced. The stations involved in the courses should be equipped with the required computers for practical exercise on the calculation of irrigation scheduling plans for the different olive growing scenarios present in the area, and with the teaching and presentation hardware when necessary. In parallel to the training course, there will be a monitoring visit by IOC to the project area in Morocco. Following the request of Mr. ean-louis Barjol, an item will be added to the olive training agenda on the discussion of the scientific protocols by Prof. lias Fereres and Dr. Luca Testi from Instituto de gricultura Sostenible (IS- CSIC), Spain. 4

5 t the issue of the training course, it is expected that 10 researchers from the project support teams in Morocco and Syria are trained on integrating innovative methods of irrigation management of olive trees into research plans to account for the new learning materials. In addition, the 2 nd Regional Coordination Meeting of the project will be organised by ICRD at its premises in leppo in une The purpose of the meeting is to appraise the progress of activities in , and to discuss and develop the work plans. 3. Period activity: objectives and goals The IRRIGOLIVO Project consists of five components: (1) stablishment of Pilot Plots for demonstration (2) Irrigation management and field management (3) Field sampling and data analysis (4) Training and technology dissemination (5) Project monitoring and supervision The objectives of the five components are set as the following: Component 1: Demonstration of the potential of advanced irrigation for increasing olive yield above current levels in rainfed olive groves and in conventionally irrigated groves; Demonstration of the potential of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) for increasing production under irrigation with a limited water supply. Component 2: Correct irrigation management of the pilot plots (PPs) following state-of-the-art irrigation strategies proposed in the project; Suitable management of pests, disease and weed control, fertilization, and tillage, aimed at avoiding interference with the irrigation effects on yields. Component 3: Preservation of the correct orchard water status of the PPs during the whole irrigation season, avoiding excessive water stress during sensitive periods, which could jeopardize or reduce the expected orchard performance; Control of tree performance and quality of the final product to verify the accomplishment of the desired quantitative and qualitative goals. Component 4: Training of technicians and extension officers on the determination of water requirements in olive orchards and design of efficient irrigation scheduling plans; 5

6 Close monitoring of the pioneer farmers who will first adopt the new irrigation systems and practices; Dissemination and demonstration among farmers of the benefits of advanced irrigation systems and rational use of irrigation water. Component 5: Monitor and supervise the development of project activities according to project plans and to ensure that project objectives are achieved in a timely manner. ccording to the project annual work plan (une 2010-May 2011), the following activities were planned for Morocco and Syria (nnex 1): Component 1: stablishment of pilot plots for demonstration ctivity 1.1: Planting of new plot with local cultivar Picholine Marocaine in the Saada farm ctivity 1.2: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Saada plot ctivity 1.3: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Tessaout plot ctivity 1.4: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Surbaya station plot ctivity 1.5: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Daraa plot and the Tafas plot Component 2: Irrigation management and field management ctivity 2.1: Irrigation management ctivity 2.2: Fertilization management ctivity 2.3: Pest, disease management & weed control ctivity 2.4: Tillage management ctivity 2.5: Harvest operations (except Saada in Morocco) Component 3: Field sampling and data analysis ctivity 3.1: Monitoring of SWC & tree water status. Leaf and fruit sampling for pest & disease early detection ctivity 3.2: Post-harvest chemical analyses of oil quality indicators. Organoleptic evaluation. ctivity 3.3: Preparation of oil samples coming from the PPs for distribution among visiting farmers Component 4: Training and technology dissemination ctivity 4.1: Design & printing of learning materials to farmers during the field days ctivity 4.2: Two or 3 extension courses on olive WR calculation ctivity 4.3: Field days on new irrigation systems and strategies, & how to put them in practice ctivity 4.4: Monitoring & tutoring of farmers deciding to switch to modern irrigation ctivity 4.5: Supervision & technical support to collaborating national institutions. 6

7 4. Detailed period activities and progress against work plan 4) Morocco.1) On-farm trials.1.1) Irrigation management of olive trees at Saada Site The objective is to develop and disseminate advanced irrigation management package of young olive trees that allow the improvement of water productivity, olive yields and quality. Site location and description The first site is located in the area of efiss/haouz, Saada domaine, in the new location of the IR experimental Menara station of Marrakech. The trial is conducted on an area of 1.5 hectares where drip irrigation technique will be used. The number of rows is 9 with 20 trees per row (or 7 trees each with 18 rows taking into account the borders). n additional adjacent plot of 0.45 ha will be irrigated with surface flooding technique, a practice widely used in the region and it is considered as a check. The cultivar Ménara a selected clon of picholine marocaine variety is used for the plantation. The density is 156 trees per hectare, or a square spacing of 8 m x 8 m. Treatments and experimental design Two irrigation treatments: Check: 100 % of crop water crop requirements Deficit irrigation: 70% of crop water requirements The trial is carried out in RCBD with three replications. ach plot (treatment) consists of 21 trees: three rows with seven trees each. fter consultation with P (Dr Mohammed Karrou visited the site on ovember 1 st 2010), it has made changes to the initial experimental protocol. For control, we have two variants: - Flood irrigation with 100% TP - Flood irrigation, as traditionally made by farmers in the region. Water meters were installed at the entrance to the unit parcels to quantify the volume of water used, with the aim to compare actual intakes of water consumed by the two systems. The design of the on-farm trial is given in Fig. 1. 7

8 Fig. 1: The experimental design of the on-farm trial at Saada site in Morocco.1.2. Irrigation management of olive trees at Tessaout site The objective is to demonstrate that switching from traditional surface irrigation to rational localized irrigation (drip) with fertigation (combining rational irrigation with fertilisation and pest control) will increase significantly water productivity and olive yields and quality Site location and description The second site is located in the 135 ha IR experimental station of Tassaout, 70 km ast of Marrakech in the center of a 150,000 ha irrigation district that is also a very important olive production area. The orchard selected for the demonstration plot is composed of mature trees of the Picholine marocaine variety. The trees are 34 years old, and are planted on an 8x8 m square, covering about 1 ha (7 rows with 26 trees per row). These trees will be conducted under drip irrigation where two levels of irrigation water application will be applied. The orchard has been irrigated by traditional gravity methods, by which 6 to 8 irrigations are applied annually, between March and September. 8

9 The plot adjacent to the plot (0, 5 Ha with 8 m x 6 m spacing) will be used as a check. It will continue to be irrigated by flooding as it has been done up to now. Two levels will be considered: 100 % and conventional supply in the region. Treatments and experimental design The experimental plot is divided into two sub-plots (design). In the first sub-plot, we practice a conventional superficial tillage. In the second sub-plot, we made a deep plowing (45 cm). This tillage aims at eliminating some of the root mass. It is a practice used successfully in switching from surface to drip irrigation of mature orchards. This practice makes it possible to limit the volume of roots to adapt to drip irrigation. This deep plowing was made at a distance of 2 meters of tree trunks. In each of the two sub plots, the factor studied is water regime. Two levels of treatment are selected. The experimental design is a RCBD with three replications. The treatments were for drip irrigation, check treatment irrigated at 100 % of crop water crop requirements and deficit-irrigated treatment at 70% of crop water requirements. The trial is carried out in RCBD with three replications. ach treatment consists of 10 trees. The experimental unit is represented by a tree. For flood irrigation: two treatments were considered; irrigation with 100% TP and flood irrigation as conventionally practiced by farmers in the region. Fig. 2: The experimental design of the on-farm trial at Tessaout site in Morocco 9

10 .1.3) Visit to Marrakesh and olive groves in Tessaout and Saada Dr. Mohammed Karrou (IWLMP-ICRD) visited Marrakesh in 28 anuary - 6 February 2011 to follow up on research activities conducted in Irrigation of olive trees with the Moroccan support team in the project: L. Sikaoui (ational coordinator), loualkadi, Idrissi (Tessaout station manager), Karam (Saada, station manager). Dr. Karrou has been visiting both Tessaout and Saada experimental stations. Irrigation nets were installed and new olive trees were planted in Saada. niform irrigation was applied on young trees to ensure the establishment of the seedlings. In Tessaout, one plot was plowed to trim the old roots and stimulate the development and growth of young and active roots in the top layers of the soil. This will probably help adapting drip irrigation on old trees. Irrigation treatments will start in spring. 4B) Syria B.1) On-farm trials B.1.1) Surbaya station plot (leppo Province) Research title: Impact of pplying Different Levels of Deficit Irrigation on Olive Trees Yield The objectives of the research were to: Determining Olive water requirement at different levels under Drip Irrigation. Determining crop coefficient KC and it's changes according to Olive phonological stages. Finding out irrigation efficiency, and water use efficiency W. Studying the relationship between yield and water, according to different treatments. xperimental design The research was designed based on the complete random blocks design R.C.B.D where the experiment consists of four treatments " 1 st treatment is given 100% of water requirement when soil moisture declines to 80% FC, 2 nd and 3 rd treatments are given 66% and 33% from the water requirement of the 1 st treatment, where the 4 th treatment is a control (rainfed). The studied varieties were Sorani and Qaisi, which aged 20 years old, trees spacing were 6 * 6 m. The experiment was repeated in three replicates. 10

11 Fig. 3: The experimental design of the on-farm trial at Surbaya site in Syria Location The experiment was carried out in Surbaya research station, which belongs to GCSR in leppo governorate, and it is located 35 km south of leppo city, with an annual rainfall average of 335 mm. Photo 1: view of the olive groves at Surbaya xperimental Station GCSR (By Pierre Hayek) 11

12 The soil hydro-physical characteristics of the site are given in Table 1. Table 1: The soil hydro-physical characteristics of Surbaya experimental site (leppo) Depth Cm Fertilization Field Capacity (%) Wilting Point (%) Soil texture Vol. % Clay Silt Sand To specify the required amounts of fertilizer, five soil samples were taken randomly from the field, each sample consist of two soil depths 0 30 cm & cm. Soil analysis was carried out in GCSR labs. ccording to soil analysis, P was added to soil during ovember (230Kg/ha), while for, it was added in two periods 1 st during ovember (125 Kg/ha), while 2 nd in March (150 Kg/ha). Climatic Conditions verage temperature is 24.4 C, and rainfall is 57 mm (pril ovember), average wind speed is 1.9 m/sec, average sunshine 10.5 hour/day, average relative humidity is 56%, and Class- evaporation is 9 mm/day (Table 2). Results Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the monthly and daily T in the 100%, 66%, 33% and the rainfed control treatments, while Tables 7, 8, 9 and 10 give the evapotranspiration values of olive trees with relation to phenology. In the field of fruits yield, 1 st treatment (100%) came first with kg/ha, followed by 2 nd treatment (66%) with kg/ ha, then 3 rd treatment (33%) comes after with 8448 kg/ha, and finally 4 th treatment (rainfed) comes at the end with 4778 Kg/ha (Table 11). In the domain of plant-water relationship, water requirement for the 1 st treatment was 3133 m 3 /ha, with a W of 3.02 kg/m 3, while for the 2 nd treatment water requirement was 2552 m 3 /ha, with a W of 5.58 Kg/m 3, followed by 3 rd treatment with 1521 m 3 /ha for the water requirement, with a W of 8.58 Kg/m 3, the last was control treatment with a water requirement of 942 m 3 /ha. 12

13 Table 2: Seasonal climatic data observed at Surbaya experimental site during the period of pril- October Month PR MY L G SP OCT ve Temperature Rain Sun shine Wind speed Class vaporation mm Min. Relative Humidity Max. Relative Humidity Table 3: Monthly and Daily T 100% Treatment T PR MY L G SP OCT Monthly (m 3 /ha) Daily (m 3 /ha) Table 4: Monthly and Daily T - 66% Treatment T PR MY L G SP OCT Monthly (m 3 /ha) Daily (m 3 /ha)

14 Table 5: Monthly and Daily T - 33% Treatment T PR MY L G SP OCT Monthly (m 3 /ha) Daily (m 3 /ha) Table 6: Monthly and Daily T for the Control - (rainfed) Treatment T PR MY L G SP OCT Monthly m 3 /ha Daily m 3 /ha Table 7: T ccording to Olive Phonological Stages - 100% Treatment Phenology Sap Flow Branches Growth & Flowering Branches & Fruits Growth Fruits Coloring and Picking-p Latency Total 1/4 26/5-1/7-21/9-10/10 11/10 - T(m 3 /ha) Stage v. Daily Water o. of pplied

15 Table 8: T ccording to Olive Phonological Stages 66%Treatment Phenology Sap Flow Branches Growth & Flowering Branches & Fruits Growth Fruits Coloring and Picking-p Latency Total 1/4 29/5 1/7 16/9 10/10 11/10 T(m 3 /ha) Stage v. Daily Water o. of pplied Table 9: T ccording to Olive Phonological Stages - 33%Treatment Phenology Sap Flow Branches Growth & Flowering Branches & Fruits Growth Fruits Coloring and Picking-p Latency Total 1/4-15/5 16/5-21/6-16/9-5/10 6/10 - T(m 3 /ha) Stage Length/day v. Daily Water o. of pplied

16 Table 10: T ccording to Olive Phonological Stages - Control Treatment Phenology Sap Flow Branches Growth & Flowering Branches & Fruits Growth Fruits Coloring and Picking-p Latency Total 1/4-20/5 21/5-26/6-11/9-30/9 1/10 - T (m 3 /ha) Stage (Length/day) v. Daily Water o. of pplied Table 11: Water - Yield Relationship for the Treatments Treatments T Total Water Requirement Required Irrigations (m 3 /h) pplied Irrigations Fruits Yield W (kg/ha) (kg/m 3 ) % Yield increase Compared to control 100% % % Control (rain-fed)

17 B.1.2) Daraa experimental plot (Daraa Province) Research Title: Impact of pplying Different Levels of Deficit Irrigation on Olive Trees Yield The objectives of this research were to: Determining Olive water requirement at different levels under Drip Irrigation Determining crop coefficient KC and it's changes according to olive phonological stages Finding out irrigation efficiency, and water use efficiency W Studying the relationship between yield and water, according to different treatments. xperimental design The research was designed based on the complete random blocks design R.C.B.D where the it consist of four treatments " 1 st treatment is given 100% of water requirement when soil moisture declines to 80% FC, 2 nd and 3 rd treatments are given 66% and 33% from the water requirement of the 1 st treatment, where the 4 th treatment is a control (rainfed). Studied varieties were Sorani, lott, and Frontoyio which aged 28 years old, trees spacing were 8 * 8 m. The experiment was repeated in three replicates. R1 R3 R3 R2 R2 R1 100% Treatment 66% Treatment 33% Treatment Rainfed Treatment Fig. 4: The experimental design of the on-farm trial at Daraa site in Syria 17

18 Photo 2: view of Tafas pilot plot near Daraa (Southern Syria) (By idal ouni) Location The experiment was carried out in ellin Research Station), which belongs to GCSR in Daraa governorate, and it is located 25 km orth of Daraa city, with an annual rainfall average of 400 mm. The soil hydro-physical characteristics of the site are given in Table 12. Table 12: The soil hydro-physical characteristics of illin experimental site (Daraa) Field capacity Soil Texture% Depth Bulk Density g/cm 3 W V Sand Silt Clay

19 verage gricultural Practices Fertilizer Phosphor and K (300/kg/ha), with 50% of fertilizer (150/kg/ha) were added before first cultivation, the second 50% of (150/kg/ha) was added by applying fertigation (three times). lso soluble fertilizers ( P K) were added during the whole season by applying fertigation (100/kg/h). These amounts of fertilizers depended on the recommendations of soil analysis. Irrigation Management The following irrigation supplies had place during the experiment: 1 st Treatment (100%) Irrigation Irrigation Quantity - m 3 /ha pplication date 1 st /9/ nd /10/ rd /10/2010 total

20 2 nd Treatment (66%) Irrigation Irrigation Quantity - m 3 /ha pplication date 1 st /9/ nd /10/ rd /10/2010 total rd Treatment (33%) Irrigation Irrigation Quantity - m 3 /ha pplication date 1 st /9/ nd /10/ rd /10/2010 total Yield The following yields were obtained during the 2011 olive growing season: 1 st Treatment (100%) Replicate Yield - Kg/tree Yield - kg/ha R R R average

21 2 nd Treatment (66%) Replicate Yield - kg/tree Yield - kg/ha R R R average rd Treatment (33%) Replicate Yield - Kg/tree Yield - kg/ha R R R average Control Treatment (Rainfed) Replicate Yield - kg/tree Yield -kg/ha R R R average

22 Photo 3: Olive seed colour of Sorani cultivar at illin xperimental Station (By idal ouni) B.1.3) Field visit to Daraa xperimental Station and Olive Groves in Tafa region meeting was held at the General Commission for Scientific gricultural Research (GCSR) in Damascus on Sunday 24 October 2010 within the frame activity of the Program for the Development and Dissemination of Sustainable Irrigation Management in Olive Growing - (CFCIIOOC/06). The partakers of the meeting were ng. idal ouni and ng. Ghassan boud from the Directorate of atural Resources Management of GCSR and Dr. Fadi Karam (IWLMP- ICRD). The scope of the meeting was to assess the progress of activity implementation in Daraa xperimental Station during the current 2010 irrigation season (-OCT 2010) and to discuss future activities based on the work plan. The Damascus meeting of Sunday 24 th October was followed by a visit to Daraa xperimental Station of the GCSR in Southern Syria, to which also participated Dr. Theib Oweis, Director of IWLMP-ICRD and ng. Pierre Hayek (IWLMP-ICRD), on Monday 25 th October, where the group met with ng. Hussein Katama, Director of Daraa xperimental Station, as well as the IRRIGOLIV support team in the said station, ngs. Mohammed Hayek, Hussam Khalili and Feras l yesh. The scope of the visit was to meet with the project support team at Dara xperimental Station and to discuss achievements and progress in the implementation of the different activities of IRRIGOLIV project, as well to visit the farmer s olive groves in Tafas that are used as pilot plots in the project. 22

23 1. Purposes of the trip. Meeting at Directorate of atural Resources Management-GCSR (Damascus) Dr. Fadi Karam, ng. idal ouni, the ational Coordinator of IRRIGOLIV, and ng. Ghassan boud (IRRIGOLIV support team) met on Sunday 24 th October 2010 at the premises of the Directorate of atural Resources Management of the General Commission for Scientific gricultural Research (GCSR) to discuss progress in the implementation of activities according to the work plan , and to set up a list of priority actions to be undertaken as soon as possible, mainly: 1. Organization of a science day in December 2010 at ICRD HQ in leppo to give evidence of results obtained during the 2010 growing season at both Surbaya (leppo) and Daraa Research Stations; 2. Organization of a training course in early 2011 at ICRD with target audience of researchers and extensionists on the determination of olive water requirements and irrigation scheduling based on soil and plant water status. Karam and ouni also examined work deviation that occurred at Daraa xperimental Station, following the attributed delay in mounting the localized irrigation network during the current 2010 irrigation season (une-october 2010) due to unexpected administrative procedures, which delayed the rhythm of work progress. ouni added that the engineering and technical study for the irrigation project for the olive groves at Daraa xperimental Station was completed by a technical committee established by the Directorate of atural Resources Management of GCSR, as well as the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) and Technical Specifications of the required irrigation materials and fittings. He also said that three offers were obtained from local Syrian irrigation companies, and it was expected that one offer out of three will be sorted complying the technical specifications, but this still has to be done. s a result, the purchase of materials and equipments for the irrigation network needed for the experimental olive groves at Daraa xperimental Station (ctivity 1.4) and those needed for Tafas Pilot Plot at the farmers field (ctivity 1.5) were not completed during the current 2010 irrigation season. B. Visit to Daraa xperimental Station and the olive Pilot Plot at Taffas The partakers of the two-day meeting; Drs. Theib Oweis and Fadi Karam, ng. Pierre Hayed (IWLMP), and ng. idal ouni (GCSR) met on Monday 25 th October with the Director of Daraa Research Station, ng. Hussein Katama, as well as the IRRIGOLIV support team in the center; ngs. Mohammed Hayek, Hussam Khalili and Feras l yesh. fter welcoming the participants, ng. Katama briefed to the gathering the principal research activities that were conducted at the center during the current 2010 growing season, based on the work plan that was approved during the GCSR-ICRD coordination workshop (20 May 2010). ng. Katama added even though the delay in purchasing the new materials for the localized irrigation network at the center had negative repercussions, the pursue of the olive research 23

24 plan went further as being scheduled earlier using irrigation differentiation based on traditional surface irrigation delivery. ng. Katama said that now administrative measures and technical preparations are now being undertaken for the next 2011 irrigation period, in such a way to avoid any kind of extra delay time in mounting the localized irrigation network and to start scheduling irrigation based on accurate soil and plant sensors. Then, ngs. Mohammed Hayek and Hussam Khalili showed the meeting participants the results of the 2010 olive experiment, with emphasis on: Weather monitoring variables; Soil water content monitoring data; Phenology; Growth parameters; Irrigation and nitrogen applications. They also outlined the parameters to be measured in the Lab at harvest time for both olive fruits and olive oil. The participants had a big discussion on the accuracy and usefulness of measuring the organoleptic parameters of olive oil (oil percentage, acidity, peroxide, phenol, fat acids, nonfat acids, etc ) as well as parameters related to olive residues (dry matter and water content), on samples coming from mills or samples prepared in the Laboratory. ng. ouni said that olive specialists and technicians at the olive Lab on Damascus found that results may differ depending on the origin of the samples (Lab or mills). ng. ouni recommended that oil samples on which measurements should be done to be taken from mills. Dr. Theib Oweis thanked the participants for organizing such an important meeting, stressing also in his intervention on the valuable efforts that the CFC-IRRIGOLIV support team at Daraa xperimental Station is conducting towards achieving the goals and activities of the project. Dr. Oweis also stressed the importance of purchasing and mounting the localized irrigation network at the center, as well as at the farmers pilot plot before the next 2011 irrigation season in order to comply with the project work plan and deliverables. fter that, the meeting participants had a tour in the center, where ng. Feras l yesh (Pomology Research nit) gave explanations on the species introduced in the 20-year old olive orchards, 15m x 15m tree spacing, as well as on the most important agricultural practices and handlings. Then, the participants visited the farmers pilot plot of Tafas, where the son of the olive groves owner explained explicitly the problems and constraints faced by farmers in Tafas and Daraa region in general during the current 2010 irrigation, especially those related to heat stress and increased temperature during summer period, which negatively affected olive yield. During the visit, the participants could observe the negative impacts which are derived from the use of flooding irrigation as the cracks of the fine-textured soil (high clay content) gave place to preferential ways for water being not used by tress. Besides delivering huge amounts of water to irrigation the whole olive field, a considerable part of water is not used efficiently by the trees because of deep seepage through crakes and surface run off losses. The participants agreed that 24

25 a localized irrigation system, such as bubbler, would be the right solution to overcome this constraint. With an adjusted flow delivery per unit of time and a well precise wet area, bubbler irrigation system for olive groves would lead to considerable savings in irrigation, improve distribution uniformity, and reduce weed growth. The participants then moved to meet the Director of griculture and grarian Reforms in the Governorate of Daraa, Mr. Hussein Taha, who welcomed the gathering and stressed the importance of collaborative efforts on olive tree, being a traditional and multi-beneficial tree in Daraa region and in Syria in general. 4. pcoming events and plan of action for next quarter (-MR, 2011) 1) dvanced training course on Innovative methods and tools of irrigation management of olive trees (IR, Marrakech, March 2011) dvanced olive irrigation scheduling is based on the knowledge of soil and plant characteristics and basic calculation methods. The latest achievements on this subject are in the process of being transferred to farmers in the more developed olive production countries, while in developing countries, most of olive trees orchards are handled under rainfed conditions without, in most cases, neither a fertilizer application calendar nor weed and pest controls. In The purpose of the workshop is to train researchers of the project support teams in Morocco and Syria on the determination of crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling of olive trees under water scarcity. By the end of the workshop, participants from both countries will have developed research plans that include innovative tools of water management of olive trees for better olive production and oil quality. Learning material 1. Growth and development of olive tree 2. Crop management, fertilizers, weeds control and pest control 3. Soil-water-plant relations: water uptake and transport 4. Concept of water productivity 5. Methods of irrigation of olive trees: trickle and drip irrigation 6. Water requirement of olive trees (Tc): coefficients approach, water balance, modelling 7. Deficit irrigation, regulated deficit irrigation and partial root drying of olive trees 8. Irrigation scheduling from soil measurements: θ, soil matric potential 9. Irrigation scheduling using modelling 10. Overview of irrigation scheduling methods based on physiological traits 11. Tools used in irrigation management based on soil moisture measurement 12. Tools used in irrigation management based on innovative plant stress sensing: sap flow measurements and trunk growth variations 2) Monitoring visit (IR, Marrakesh, March, 2011) The CFC will carry out a regular monitoring of the project, in coordination with the IOC, which will also carry out supervision in its capacity as Supervisory Body for the project. 25

26 3. 2 nd Regional Coordination Meeting Within the scope of activities of the Program for the Development and Dissemination of Sustainable Irrigation Management in Olive Growing (IRRIGOLIVO) (CFC/IOOC/06), ICRD will organize at its premises in leppo the 2 nd IRRIGOLIV Regional Coordination Meeting in une The purpose of the meeting is to appraise the progress of activities in , and to discuss and develop the work plans. 26

27 nnex 1: nnual work plan and budget (WPB Y1, May 2010-pril 2011) I. Work Plan Table 1: Project first year work plan (une 2010 May 2011) per component and activity Component 1: stablishment of pilot plots for demonstration Type of activity ctivity 1.1: Planting of new plot with local cultivar Picholine Marocaine in the Saada farm ctivity 1.2: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Saada plot. ctivity 1.3: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Tessaout plot ctivity 1.4: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Surbaya station plot ctivity 1.5: Purchase & installation of drip irrigation system in the Dara a plot and the Tafas private plot L G S P O C T O V D C F B M R P R M Y Component 2: Irrigation management and field management Type of activity (applicable to all sites & plots) ctivity 2.1: Irrigation management L G S P O C T O V D C F B M R P R M Y ctivity 2.2: Fertilization management ctivity 2.3: Pest, disease management & weed control ctivity 2.4: Tillage management ctivity 2.5: Harvest operations (except Saada domain/morocco) Component 3: Field sampling and data analysis Type of activity ctivity 3.1: Monitoring of SWC & tree water status. Leaf and fruit sampling for pest & disease early detection ctivity 3.2: Post-harvest chemical analyses of oil quality indicators. Organoleptic evaluation. ctivity 3.3: Preparation of oil samples coming from the PPs for distribution among visiting farmers L G S P O C T O V D C F B M R P R M Y 27

28 Table 1 (continued) Component 4: Training and technology dissemination Type of activity ctivity 4.1: Design & printing of learning materials to farmers during the field days ctivity 4.2: Two or 3 extension courses on olive WR calculation L G S P O C T O V D C F B M R P R M Y ctivity 4.3: Field days on new irrigation systems and strategies, & how to put them in practice ctivity 4.4: Monitoring & tutoring of farmers deciding to switch to modern irrigation ctivity 4.5: Supervision & technical support to collaborating national institutions Component 5: Project monitoring and supervision Type of activity ctivity 5.1: Organize annual meeting of the Project Coordinating Committee ctivity 5.2: Preparation of nnual Work Plans and Program Budgets ctivity 5.4: Submission of six-month & annual progress reports; annual financial & independent auditor's report ctivity 5.5: nnual monitoring visit and report by the CFC L G S P O C T O V D C F B M R P R M Y 28