best practices for sustainable protected agriculture ... · symposium: best practices and its...

Best practices for Sustainable protected agriculture system

to cut on water and energy uses under GGC conditions

Symposium: Best Practices and its Impact to Water Resources Sustainability", Ibri, Oman, 25-26 Jan 2016

Dr. Redouane Choukr-Allah & Dr. Abdelaziz Hirich


Status and prospects of Agriculture Development in the Golf States

Per capita “available” water share in GCC,

1950-2010

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Po

pu

lati

on

in

millio

ns

cu

bic

mete

rs p

er

cap

ita

In Kuwait, if current trends continue all oil

production (2.5 Mbbl/d) will be consumed

locally by the year 2035

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

year

% o

f 2.5

Mb

bl/d

Total Oil Consumption (all sectors)

CPDP Oil Consumption

Water uses in the GCC countries

Agriculture uses over 85% of the available fresh water,

92% is used for dates and forage production

Agriculture is prime target for water saving efforts.

90% of the food is imported (34 US $ bn).

Improving water management and water productivity in agricultural

systems is a major strategic issue for most GCC countries.

Protected horticulture can play a key role



Protected Agriculture in in some GCC Countries

Country Greenhous

e area (ha)

Year Source

UAE 441 2010 Ministry of Environment and Water

Saudi Arabia 8921 2012 Ministry of Agriculture

Kuwait 3337 2014 Central Statistics Bureau

Bahreïn 73.8 2015 Abdulrazag, 2015

Oman 145 2015 Al Rawahy, 2015

Qatar 186.3 2015 Al Kharbotly, 2015

Total in some GCC countries 13104.1


Water and energy use efficiency under greenhouse and net house

Structure description

The mist system with the shade net reduced temperature by about 6 °C.

The shade net without mist system reduced temperature by only 3 °C.




5.50 5.23 6.17 5.12

14.47 18.34

4.65 4.65

Sweet pepper Tomato Cucumber Sweet Pepper

Greenhouse Nethouse

Average Water Use (L/m².day)

Irrigation Cooling

268.23 331.97

10.41 10.41

Sweet pepper Tomato Cucumber Sweet Pepper

Greenhouse Nethouse

Average Energy Use (Watt-hour/m².day)

5.9

6.1

10.4

8.5

12.9

6.1

16.4

13.0

S1 (Round)

S2 (Mini plum)

Sarah (Round)

Lazarino (Round)

Mitre

Cetriolo

Zeco

Al Ameed

Tom

ato u

nder

gre

enhouse

Cu

cum

ber

und

er

net

ho

use

Irrigation Water Productivity (Kg/m3)

1.7

1.7

3.0

2.4

17.1

8.1

21.7

17.3

S1 (Round)

S2 (Mini plum)

Sarah (Round)

Lazarino (Round)

Mitre

Cetriolo

Zeco

Al Ameed

Tom

ato u

nder

gre

enhouse

Cu

cum

ber

und

er

net

ho

use

Cooling Water Productivity (Kg/m3)




10866

10744

6210

7488

132

276

112

133

S1 (Round)

S2 (Mini plum)

Sarah (Round)

Lazarino (Round)

Mitre

Cetriolo

Zeco

Al Ameed

Tom

ato

under

gre

enh

ou

se

Cu

cum

ber

un

der

net

hou

seEnergy Use Efficiency (Watt-hour/Kg)






133 118 123

141

164 167 162 177

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

sand Coco peat sand Coco peat sand Coco peat sand Coco peat

Zeco Alfrid Zeco Alfrid

Greenhouse Net House

Yie

ld (

kg

/m2

)

Cucumber yield under greenhouse and net house (October-

January)


New Generation of Green Houses to cut water consumption


41°C

40°C

28°C

40°C

50°C

hot

warm

cold

97

8

10

• Evaporation of water from liquid desiccant to

greenhouse air within the Absorber Box (regeneration

of desiccant for next day) under use of heat from

storage

• Cooling of air and condensation/collection of water

on extended northern wall

•Return of desiccant concentrate to storage, while

passing the solar collector for further radiative cooling

•Further condensation/collection of water on

greenhouse cover surface

New Generation of Green Houses to cut water consumption

Use of saline or even seawater for cooling greenhouses


80% of water used in greenhouse is for cooling

Hydroponic system to recycle drainage water


Productivity of 1 m3 of water in GCC Protected Agriculture Vs. Open Field

TomatoPepper

PA 28.2kg

PA 16.7kg

OF 2.8kg

OF 1.2kg

ICARDA/QNFSP 2010


Conclusion


Although many practices targeted at improving greenhouse productivity are

agronomically and technically sound, it is also necessary to assess their economic and

environmental sustainability in GCC countries

The use of Screen-house hold a great opportunity for cutting water and energy while still

producing food during the period October to June

The use of saline water through the volcanic rock pad will reduce by 80% the fresh water

used in the greenhouse production

The use of closed hydroponic system allows to save water and nutrients however qualified

technicians are required to manage and operate the system

The use of local substrate as sand and organic matter increase the crop productivity and

benefice compared to imported materials (coco peat, perlite…etc)

The new generation greenhouse could save up to 90% of applied water under close

protected agriculture and needs more applied research, development and adaptation

A unique Center of Excellence looking at Agriculture for

Tomorrow

Thank you For more information and ICBA publications visit

www.biosaline.com

ICBA – International Center for Biosaline Agriculture is an international, non-profit organization that aims to strengthen agricultural productivity in

marginal and saline environments through identifying, testing and facilitating access to sustainable solutions for food, nutrition and income security

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