Potential of Kochia prostrata and Perennial Grasses for Rangeland Restoration in Jordan

Abstract

Executive SummaryBadia rangelands provide a significant portion of the domestically produced forage that sustains the range livestock industry. Sale of livestock and livestock products support an important sector of the economy and enable many rural communities to maintain a valued and traditional way of life. This report describes the results of a range improvement project that included several alternative water harvest techniques that concentrate rain-fed runoff water into a smaller area to allow forage shrub establishment and growth in the low rainfall Tal Rimah area of Jordan. In addition the project focused on appropriate grazing management for sustaining increased grazing.Tal Rimah is situated northwest of Safawi and about 70 km east of Al-Mafraq. The demonstration site chosen for the Tal Rimah range project encompasses about 50 hectares northeast of the village of Tal Rimah.A critical element in the selection of this particular site was the willingness of the herders in the Tal Rimah area to cooperate with BRDC and its partners in setting this area aside for an indefinite period as a demonstration. The local community was involved in the project from the starting point of problem definition, possible solutions, site selection of plant species suitable to the area and the intended use by livestock owners.The 50-hectare demonstration site was prepared to demonstrate a variety of water harvesting configurations for shrub planting including; contour furrows, micro-catchments, and low rock walls.Information developed indicates that water harvesting techniques used along with proper grazing management practices may have the potential for increasing the range carrying capacity from 100 to 250 sheep grazing days per hector annually in areas with at least 200 mm rainfall per year, an increase from three to six fold as compared to non improved range under present management practices. Increases in grazing capacity are expected to be similar in lower rainfall regions, those averaging from 100 to 150 mm per year, but the range carrying capacity is expected to be lower, requiring from 3.5 to 7.0 hectors to support a sheep year-long compared to 1.5 to 3.5 hectors for ranges averaging 200 mm rainfall per year.The test plot used relatively high cost construction alternatives for building the water catchments and planted comparatively expensive shrubs. Even under these conditions the concept appears to be feasible with investment payback period ranging from 4 to 17 years depending up assumptions of the sustainable level of grazing and average rainfall. Community based construction using lower cost construction techniques and lower cost direct seeding may offer a more cost effective approach to increasing the grazing capacity of selected area in the Badia.

Livestock, medicinal plants and rangeland viability in Jordan’s Badia: through the lens of traditional and local knowledge

“…'Badia' is an Arabic word commonly used to describe the arid to semi-arid regions of the Middle East where the average rainfall is less than 200 mm annually (Bailey et al 2010;Al Tabini et al 2008;Al Tabini 2001). Badia constitutes a large proportion of the countries in the region: around 80% of Jordan, 75% of Iraq, 90% of Saudi Arabia and 55% of Syria (Alwelaie 1985;Sankari 1993).…”

“…An overwhelming 98% of participants believe that droughts are a major cause for the dramatic decrease in the average daily grazing time (IFAD 2002). In the Jordanian badia region, the average rainfall is less than 200 mm per year, with some drier regions receiving less than 50 mm of rainfall annually (Bailey et al 2010;Al-Tabini et al 2008;Al-Tabini 2002).…”

High precipitation and seeded species competition reduce seeded shrub establishment during dryland restoration

“…Of the three major plant groups comprising dryland plant communities (grasses, forbs, shrubs), restoration of shrubs has proven most failure prone. When sown with grasses, shrubs often nearly or completely fail to establish (e.g., Bailey et al 2010, Fansler and Mangold 2011, Kulpa et al 2012, Schellenberg et al 2012. Consequently, ''restored'' drylands often have adequate grass stands but no shrubs or far fewer shrubs than nearby reference sites (Booth et al 1999, Simmers and Galatowitsch 2010, Frouz et al 2013.…”

Preferences of sheep, when supplemented, for forages in a Mediterranean rangeland management system

“…The use of perennial grasses and forbs should be considered in restoration efforts. In areas with greater than 100 mm of annual precipitation, drought-tolerant perennial grasses may be an option for seeding (Bailey et al 2010). Mixes of grasses, forbs and shrubs would likely match preferences of sheep more closely than shrub plantings.…”

“…Al-Tabini et al 2008;Ben Salem et al 2010). In areas of Jordan with over 100 mm of annual precipitation, there also may be opportunities to establish drought-tolerant perennial grasses (Bailey et al 2010).…”