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One point of particular interest in the Peninsula is the regenerative capacity of the range itself; in some areas, simple fencing of parts of the range to exclude livestock results in dramatic and rapid regeneration of native vegetation, and not just the unpalatable species. Other areas are unfortunately too degraded for any rapid recovery and will have to be replanted.
     The work has potential impact in two directions: first by rehabilitating the range itself to improve its present levels of productivity, and second by identifying new forages for cultivation which will use less water than those currently grown by farmers.
       By seeking to maintain the resources of natural vegetation and water, we aim to enable animal production to continue into the future and provide much-needed food for the people of the region--a goal we believe is achievable.


 




Dr Morag Ferguson is a consultant on rangeland plant genetic resources and Dr Ian McCann is Water/ Irrigation Management Specialist, at APRP, ICARDA, in Dubai. Guy Manners is a former Editor/Writer, ICARDA.

provides an indication of better intake), and a low ash content (which provides an indication of the silica content--which makes forages less palatable). Moreover Cenchrus ciliaris had a similar dry-matter degradability to rhodes grass in both goats and camels. It was found however that camels were 50% more efficient in digesting the grasses than goats--a fine demonstration of the advantages of natural adaptation!
      On the rangeland-rehabilitation and enhancement front, ICARDA has a vast amount of experience from its work in the steppes of North Africa and the Near East. Technologies already developed will be tested and adapted in the Arabian Peninsula.                             

and two grass shrubs as well as 15 trees or shrubs which could be used for rangeland rehabilitation and enhancement.
      Apart from the small seed samples collected from many sites during the missions, we needed large quantities of seed to start our experiments in the next growing season. Many of the target species occur naturally in large stands where they are protected. We therefore carried out 'bulk' seed collections from these single sites for 10 grass and shrub species. This has provided us with sufficient seed to start with.
       The next step in the research process will be to determine the water-use efficiency of the selected species. The most important criterion may be the weight of animal product produced per unit of water applied, under both optimum and sub-optimum water amounts.
      It will also be important to determine the chemical composition and in vivo degradation to estimate the nutritive value of the 'new' forages in relation to rhodes grass and alfalfa. This is being done through a collaborative project with the United Arab Emirates University in Al-Ain.
        Initial results show that Cenchrus ciliaris and Panicum turgidum are compatible with rhodes grass in having a similar crude protein content, a low neutral detergent fiber (which