Rationale

  Bread wheat occupies an important role in the diets of the population and will continue to be the most important staple food in Sultanate of Oman. Although large quantity of wheat is imported from other countries for domestic consumption, the crop can be still regarded as strategic indigenous food crop, as several land races have been found in germplasm collection mission indicating Oman to be either secondary or tertiary center of diversity of wheat. The total area of wheat in Oman is 1055 feddan producing about 1413 tons. The principal wheat growing areas are Dhahira and the interior (approx. 950 feddan). The crop is relatively a recent introduction in the Batinah coast. In the southern Dhofar province the crop is grown to a limited extent. The rise in temperature and extended day length in March-April limits grain-filling period particularly in late maturity varieties and consequently results in reduced grain yield levels. Furthermore, the bird damage is extensive in isolated wheat fields grown in small areas. Collaboration with CIMMYT, Mexico and ICARDA, Syria and selection from ICARDA elite material led to release of selections of several cultivars. The Omani farmers still like to cultivate the local varieties of wheat such as Cooley, Missani, Sarraya and Hamira, but these varieties are tall and susceptible to rust and smut diseases. Hence, a breeding program is proposed involving local varieties to develop elite high yielding genotypes which have all the preferred characters of local varieties such as bread making quality with tolerance to heat and diseases like rust and smuts.

Objectives

1.      To breed and improve the three local varieties Colley, Missani, and Sarrya of bread wheat for high yield, disease resistance and bread making quality.

2.      Evaluation of F1 and F2 generations in two locations in different seasons to reduce the period of the program from 8 years to 4 years.

Locations

Jimah Research Station (Interior Region)

Duration

Long term (5 years)

From 2001-2007

Investigators

Dr. Hamid Galoub Ali                     Field Crops Expert

Dr. Saleem Kasem Nadaf                Plant Genetics Expert

Eng. Saif Ali Al Khamisi                    Head of Field Crops Lab.

Eng. Saleh Al-Hinai                         PGR Research Assist.

Mrs. Safa’a Al-Farsi                        Head of PGR lab.

Mr. Rashed Al Hinai                         Field Crops Technician (Jimah)

Mr. Masood Harith Al Adawy        Field Crops Technician (Jimah)

Mr. Salim Al-Mushaifri                      Field Crops Technician (Rumais)

Estimated Budget

1000.00 R.O.  per year

Methodology

3 Omani local bread wheat varieties (Cooley, Missani and Sarraya) used as Female Parents.

4 introduced   and recommend      wheat     varieties (Jimah 225, Jimah 125, Jimah 110 and W.Q.S 302) used as Male Parents

Spacing: Space planting

Fertilizers: 150 kg N/ha : 90 kg P2O5/ha : 60 kg K2O/ha

References

Anonymous. 1994-99. Annual Reports of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Hamid Ch. Ali, 1988, Fundamental of field crops breeding and genetics, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Iraq.

Hamid Chaloub Ali, Dheya P. Yousif, 2000, New directions in plant breeding, Abadi Study and Publication Center, Sana’a, Yemen.

Pohelman, J.M. 1988, Breeding Field Crops, Henry Holt and Company.

Allrd, R.W. 1960, Principles of Plant Breeding

تقرير الإحصاءات الزراعية لعام 2000م ، دائرة الإحصاء والمعلومات ، المديرية العامة للتخطيط وتنمية الاستثمار ، وزارة الزراعة والثروة السمكية.

Rationale

Wheat occupies an important role in the diets of the population and will continue to be the most important staple food in Oman.  However, most of the requirements are imported and the crop is of much less importance in the Sultanate's agriculture. Yet, research on its improvement and agronomy is in progress as wheat is considered as a strategic crop. The total area of wheat in Oman is 1055 feddan producing about 1413 tons. The principal wheat growing areas are Dhahira and the Interior (approx 950 Feddan). The crop is relatively a recent introduction in the Batinah coast. In the southern Dhofar province, the crop is grown to a limited extent. The rise in temperatures and extended day length in March-April limits grain filling period particularly in late maturing varieties and consequently results in reduced grain yield levels. Furthermore, the bird damage is extensive in isolated wheat fields grown in small areas. Selected genotypes yielding at least 15% higher yield than the local checks, will be evaluated for their stability of performance during winter, 2005-2006

Objectives

1. To study the performance of promising wheat varieties

2. To identify high yielding genotypes which are tolerant to major diseases and pests

Location

Jimah Research Station,    Alkamil Research Station

Duration

Season:            Winter, 2005-2006            Period:        November 2005 - April, 2006

Investigators

Dr. Hamid Galoub Ali                    Field Crops Expert

Mr. Masood Harith Al Adawy     Field Crops Technician (Jimah)

Mr. Rashed Al Hinai                       Field Crops Technician (Jimah)

Eng Khalid Alhashmi                     Field Crops (Alkamil)

Estimated Budget

500.00 R.O / year

Methodology

Design: RCBD with 3 replications

Plot size:           2.5m x 1.5m

Spacing:           25 cm between rows

Fertilizers:     150 kg N/ha : 90 kg P2O5/ha : 60 kg K2O/ha

Observations to be recorded:

Germination %

Plant height (cm)                       Bird damage                

Incidence of

Days to heading                        Lodging index              

(pests & disease).in collaboration with plant protection center

Days to maturity                       Grain yield (kg/ha)       

No. of productive tillers            Straw yield (t/ha)

Biological yield (t/ha)

References

Anonymous. 1994-99. Annual Reports of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Anonymous. 1997. Statistical Year Book 1997. Ministry of National Economy. Sultanate of Oman. August, 1998. 26: 130.

تقرير الاحصاءات الزراعية لعام 2000م ، دائرة الاحصاء والمعلومات ، المديرية العامة للتخطيط وتنمية الاستثمار ، وزارة الزراعة والثروة السمكية.

Annual reports of ICARDA, 1999-2000, Aleppo, Syria

Martin, J W , W. H. Leonard and D. L. Stamp, 1976. Principles of field crops production.

Rationale

Barley is the second cereal crop in Oman. It occupies an area of 2930 feddan. It is used for both livestock and human consumption.

In Batinah coast it is used for fodder , while in Sharqia and western Hajar it is grown for grain utilized mostly as a component of poultry feed. In Musandam, some land races (Cv. Duraqi) used for human consumption. In these years, the countries of the gulf region are laying emphasis on barley cultivation because of huge market demands as animal feed and green fodder. The cultivar Duraqi is vary popular local variety in Musandam area as it is cultivated under rainfed . From our previous investigations we found that this cultivar is early in maturity as well as tolerant to salinity higher than 6 dS/m but this variety is low in yield. Hence a breeding program is proposed involving local variety (Duraqi) to develop elite high yielding genotypes having all the preferred characteristics of local variety.

Objectives

To develop elite genotypes with Duraqi background varying in plant height and yield

Location

Jimah Research Station,

Duration

Season:            Winter, 2005-2006           Period:         long term (5 years)

Investigators

Estimated Budget

500.00 R.O / year

Methodology

1.      The Duraqi cultivar will be crossed with selected high yield , tall and late maturity genotypes

2.      Large quantity of F2 seed population will be produced for further study

3.      Desirable F3 families will be selected and advanced for further generations

References

Anonymous. 1994-99. Annual Reports of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Anonymous. 1997. Statistical Year Book 1997. Ministry of National Economy. Sultanate of Oman. August, 1998. 26: 130.

تقرير الاحصاءات الزراعية لعام 2000م ، دائرة الاحصاء والمعلومات ، المديرية العامة للتخطيط وتنمية الاستثمار ، وزارة الزراعة والثروة السمكية.

Annual reports of ICARDA, 1999-2000, Aleppo, Syria

Martin, J W , W. H. Leonard and D. L. Stamp, 1976. Principles of field crops production.

Rationale

The barley varieties in Oman are mostly six rowed. They are grown either as green fodder, grains or both in an area of 2930 feddan. Barley is usually cultivated for fodder along with alfalfa, all along the Batinah coast in an area of about 1330 feddan. In the Interior (550 feddan), Dhahira (900 feddan) and Sharqiya (60 feddan) it is grown not only as green fodder but also for grains utilized mostly as a component of poultry feed. In Musandam, a few land races like Duraqui are grown in a limited area for human consumption. In Oman, barley comes to heading in January-February in Batinah and mid-March in the Interior. It is cut green for fodder along with the alfalfa but it is not resown into the perennial stands of alfalfa. The farmers identified under special project on live stock improvement are encouraged to grow barley under sprinkler irrigation. In these years, the countries in the Gulf region are laying emphasis on barley cultivation because of huge market demands as animal feed and as green fodder.

Selected genotypes yielding at least 15% higher yield than the local checks will be evaluated for their stability of performance during winter, 2005-2006.

Objectives

1.To study the performance of locally selected Barley genotypes 

2.To identify high yielding genotypes which are tolerant to major diseases and pests

Location

Jimah Research Station,

Alkamil Research Station

Duration

Season:            Winter, 2005-2006

Period: November 2005 - April, 2006

Investigators

Dr. Hamid Galoub Ali                    Field Crops Expert

Mr. Masood Harith Al Adawy     Field Crops Technician (Jimah)

Mr. Rashed Al Hinai                       Field Crops Technician (Jimah)

Eng Khalid Alhashmi                     Field Crops (Alkamil)

Estimated Budget

500.00 R.O / year

Methodology

Design: RCBD with 3 replications

Plot size:           2.5m x 1.5m

Spacing:           25 cm between rows

Fertilizers:         100 kg N/ha : 90 kg P2O5/ha : 60 kg K2O/ha

Observations to be recorded:

Plant height       Days to heading           

Days to maturity           No. of productive tillers           

Grain yield (kg/ha)        Straw yield (t/ha)

Biological yield (t/ha)    Bird damage                                             

                        Lodging index               Incidence of pests & diseases

References

Anonymous. 1994-99. Annual Reports of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Anonymous. 1997. Statistical Year Book 1997. Ministry of National Economy. Sultanate of Oman. August, 1998. 26: 130.

تقرير الاحصاءات الزراعية لعام 2000م ، دائرة الاحصاء والمعلومات ، المديرية العامة للتخطيط وتنمية الاستثمار ، وزارة الزراعة والثروة السمكية.

Annual reports of ICARDA, 1999-2000, Aleppo, Syria

Martin, J W , W. H. Leonard and D. L. Stamp, 1976. Principles of field crops production.

Rationale

Locally selected material has been tried for two years at Jimah Research Station and few entries are selected based on their superiority for both green forage and grain yield. Dhofar having large number of livestock is facing problem of forage. In order to test their performance for their green forage productivity under Dhofar conditions, this experiment is to be conducted during winter, 2005-2006.

Objectives

1. Evaluation of selected barley genotypes for their forage productivity

2. To select the high forage yielding genotypes for further research

Location

Salalah Research Station

Duration

Season:            Winter, 2005-2006

Period: November 2005 - April, 2006

Investigators

Eng. Hadid Bait Shaganah                Assistant Field Crops Researcher (Salalah)

Dr. Hamid Galoub Ali                    Field Crops Expert

Eng. Saif Ali Al Khamisi                   Head of Field Crops Lab.

Estimated Budget

500.00 R.O / year

Methodology

Plot size:           2.5m x 1mm

Spacing:           25 cm between rows

Fertilizers:         100 kg N/ha : 90 kg P2O5/ha : 60 kg K2O/ha

Observations to be recorded:

Plant height                   Days to heading

No. of tillers                 Green forage yield (t/ha)

Dry matter yield (t/ha)

References

Anonymous. 1994-99. Annual Reports of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Annual reports of ICARDA, 1999-2000, Aleppo, Syria

Martin, J W , W. H. Leonard and D. L. Stamp, 1976. Principles of field crops production.

Rationale

Objectives

1. To evaluate sorghum genotypes for green forage yield under sprinkler irrigation

2. To establish high yielding fodder sorghum genotypes with multicut habit

Location

Sohar Research Station

Duration

Season:            Summer, 2006

Period: March- April 2006 to June- July 2006

Investigators

Estimated Budget

500.00 R.O / year

Methodology

Design: RCBD with 3 replications

Plot size:           3.0m x 1.5m

Spacing:           25 cm between rows

Fertilizers:         225 kg N/ha: 120 kg P2O5/ha : 125 kg K2O/ha

Observations to be recorded:

Plant stand                    Days to first cut                  

Plant Height (cm)       Green matter yield /cut (tons/ha)  

Dry matter yield /cut (tons/ha) Pests and Diseases

References

Anonymous. 1994-99. Annual Reports of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Martin, J W , W. H. Leonard and D. L. Stamp, 1976. Principles of field crops production.

Rationale

Sorghum is an annual crop. It’s planted in north and south Oman. Both green forage and grains are used for animal consumption and sometimes for human consumption.

There are several cultivars identified as local red, white and yellow, this classification depends on seed color, but these cultivars or land races are mixed for several reasons as a result of human activities. Also many local varieties and land races disappear since the farmers abandoned their cultivation and using new cultivars. To prevent this disappearance of local cultivars of sorghum this project is initiated to conserve, manage and develop sorghum local cultivars

Objectives

1. To collect traditional local sorghum seeds from farmers and seed markets.
2. To document information on all collected materials.
3. To characterize collected seeds.
4. To cultivate these materials.
5. To select the best genotypes of these for several years, until the morphological phenotype uniformity is shown.
6. Multiplication of the seeds.
7. Release the improved cultivar(s)

Location

Najd Research Station

Duration

Period: 4-6 years

Season: Summer, 2006

Investigators

Eng. Hadid Bait Shaganah                  Assistant Field Crops Researcher (Salalah)

Dr. Hamid Galoub Ali                    Field Crops Expert

Eng. Saif Ali Al Khamisi                     Head of Field Crops Lab

Estimated Budget

500.00 R.O / year

Methodology

Design: RCBD with 3 replications

Plot size:           3.0m x 1.5m

Spacing:           25 cm between rows

Fertilizers:         225 kg N/ha: 120 kg P2O5/ha : 125 kg K2O/ha

Observations:

Plant stands                              Plant height (cm)

No. of tillers/plant                     Green forage (t/ha)

Grain yield (t/ha)

References

Anonymous. 1994-99. Annual Reports of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Sultanate of Oman.

Pohelman, J.M. 1988, Breeding Field Crops, Henry Holt and Company.

Allrd, R.W. 1960, Principles of Plant Breeding

Martin, J W , W. H. Leonard and D. L. Stamp, 1976. Principles of field crops production.

Rationale

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world and used not only as feed grain for livestock but also as the source of number of important industrial products. Although traditionally maize is not a much-used crop in Oman, the increasing demand for the grains and fodder indicates that the introduction of suitable varieties may have great economical potential. At present, only a small acreage of maize is cultivated along the Batinah coast, in Nizwa and Bahla and in Dhofar area in southern Oman and hence almost all the maize needed for preparation of livestock feed is imported. The variety Giza-2 was further used in various agronomic experiments on methods of sowing, seed rate, fertiliser and irrigation management etc. at Wadi Quriat, Salalah and Rumais (Anonymous, 1981-1984). The evaluation experiments involving eight composite genotypes received from CIMMYT, Mexico conducted at Sohar Research Station and Jimah Research Station since winter 1994-95 led to identification of two high yielding genotypes namely Across 8521 and Across 8432 (Anonymous, 1994-1996). This experiment is undertaken to have high yielding hybrids to cover part of the demand of the fodder in Oman.

Objectives

1. evaluate maize genotypes for green forage yield under sprinkler

2. To establish high yielding maize genotypes

Location

Jimah Research Station,

Sohar Research Station

Duration

Season:            Winter, 2004-2005

Period: November 2004 to February 2005