Accomplishment and Future Challenges in Dryland Soil Fertility Research in the Mediterranean    Area

Edited by John RYAN
The soil Fertility Workshop, Aleppo (Syria), 19-23 November 1995

Sponsored jointly by the World Phosphate Institute (IMPHOS) and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the workshop was, in essence, a continuation of the previous soil test calibration workshops had been held in the region. Yet, it was a turning point in the West Asia and North Africa dryland soil fertility research. The terms of reference for the participants were to review and take stock of what had been accomplished in soil fertility research, and to take a look into the future and assess what needs to be done.

The proceedings include an analysis of fertilizer use in the region, nitrogen and crop rotation, phosphorus in dryland agriculture, deficiencies and toxicities of micronutrients, laboratory techniques and nutrient management, and educational and economic issues.

The workshop discussed future directions of applied soil fertility research in West Asia and North Africa (WANA). The Soil Test Calibration Network recommended that :
1. change occurs from on-station to on-farm trials, as many stations had above-normal levels of nutrients and were often unrepresentative of the area.
2. Micronutrients be considered in soil testing and crop response studies
3. Spatial variability of soil properties be considered in the design and layout of trials
4. Factors related to soil test reliability, such as N mineralization and fertilizer efficiency, be studied.
5. Efforts be made to promote public and private soil test laboratories.

Considering the above recommendations, a proposal for establishing a soil fertility network was prepared for fund-raising, with the following targets:
1. Establishment of research priorities and coordination of applied fertility research by national scientists.
2. Promotion of a whole-farm system approach to soil fertility research
3. Laboratory development and standardization of soil and plant analysis
4. Provision of data for regional soil-climatic database
5. Promotion of the use of modelling and soil maps with the use of exiting databases to predict crop response and improve fertilizer recommendations
6. Production and dissemination of a practical guide to dryland fertilization for the region's farmers
7. Serving as a catalyst for interaction with relevant international research agencies, and fostering cooperation on soil fertility issues between the public research and education sector and private commercial sector

The workshop was attended by a diversity of participants from several Syrian institutions and 13 other West Asia and North Africa countries. In addition to participants from IMPHOS, the meeting attracted attendees from several international institutions: Food and Agriculture Organizations, International Potash Institute, and International Atomic Energy Agency.

For Further information, please consult IMPHOS or ICARDA :
www.icarda.org or write to:

Head of Information Services
ICARDA
P.O.Box5466
Aleppo, Syria
e-mail: S.Varma@cgiar.org