Cultural Practices to Combat Degradation under Rainfed Areas in the Northern Coastal Plain in Egypt

The rainfed areas in the Northern Western Coastal plains extends over vast areas from western part of Alexandria towards the west at Salloom near the Libyan borders. Rates of rainfall are very poor ranging from 100 m/yr in the east and 150-200 mm/yr in the west. Rainfall decreases from the seashore to inwards the desert for 15 km to reach only 50 mm/yr. Major constraints which threaten agricultural sustainability are very low and unpredictable rainfall, poor soil moisture retention lack of organic matter, cereal monocropping, wind erosion and overgrazing in the rangelands. Crop diversification (inclusion of legume in particular) and fertility build up are the main research priority. These studies included three field trials. The first to combat wind erosion and built up fertility in silvi culture areas near the sea. Drought tolerant lentil was intercropped with the new olive trees. The results were in favor drilling method and yielded the best as compared with broadcasting in no till or tillage system. The second trial was conducted inwards 15 km from the sea to conserve rainfall water (75-125 mm/yr). Barley seeding rates was examined under different ploughing depths. The results indicated that low seeding rate (48 kg/fed) with the shallow tilth (20 cm depth) yielded the best. The third trial in same area was devoted to build up fertility by the inclusion of legume in intercropping lentil with barley. Lentil with barley in equal alternative system (2:2) rows resulted in better yields of both crops and build up fertility.