Halophytes as a resource for livestock and for rehabilitation of degraded lands

1. Case Studies from land Rangeland

   1. Halophytes and desertification control in Iraq

      • F. Al-Farrajii, M. R. Al-Hilli

      Pages 239-248

   2. Feed value of some halophytic range plants of arid regions of Iran

      • A. Koocheki, M. N. Mohalati

      Pages 249-253

   3. Use of edible shrubs in pasture improvement under Mediterranean environment in northern Syria

      • A. E. Osman, M A. Shalla

      Pages 255-258

   4. The potential economic use of halophytes for agricultural development of southern Morocco

      • R. Choukr-Allah, G. W. Jones, L. Kenny

      Pages 259-261

   5. Production from grazing sheep on revegetated saltland in Western Australia

      • B. E. Warren, T. Casson, D. H. Ryall

      Pages 263-265

2. Case Studies from land Rangeland

   1. Impact of halophytes on animal health and nutrition

      • M T. Bayoumi, H M. El Shaer

      Pages 267-272

   2. Small ruminant feeding trials on the Arabian peninsula with Salicornia bigelovii Torr.

      • James J. Riley, Edward P. Glenn, Carlos U. Mota

      Pages 273-276

   3. Effect of feeding Atriplex amnicola on growth and carcass quality of dwarf goats

      • S. Nawaz, S. H. Hanjra, R. H. Qureshi

      Pages 277-280

   4. Halophytes as animal feeds in Egyptian deserts

      • H. M. El Shaer, E. A. Gihad

      Pages 281-284

3. Case Studies from land Rangeland

   1. Alhagi sparsifolia Schap.: A potentially utilizable forage in saline soils

      • Qihong Jin

      Pages 285-288

   2. Massive propagation of halophytes (Distichlis spicata and Tamarix spp.) on the highly saline-alkaline soils in the ex-Lake Texcoco, Mexico

      • F. A. Llerena V.

      Pages 289-292

   3. Vetiver grass, its potential in the stabilisation and rehabilitation of degraded saline land

      • P. N. V. Truong

      Pages 293-296

   4. Some features of salt tolerance in Senna (Cassia acutifolia), in Sudan

      • Ali T. Ayoub

      Pages 297-301

   5. Characterization of progeny clones belonging to natural Sicilian Atriplex halimus populations

      • L. Stringi, D. Giambalvo, A. Accardo, G. Amato

      Pages 303-310

4. Back Matter

   Pages 311-318

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Desertification (land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting mainly from adverse human impacts) is the main environmental problem of dry lands, which occupy more than 40 per cent of the total global land area. The phenomenon threatens about 3.6 billion hectares and currently affects the livelihood of about 900 million people. Thl! world is now losing annually about 1.5 million hectares of total irrigated lands (240 million hectares) due mostly to salinization, mainly in drylands. Salt affected soils are widely distributed throughout the arid and semi-arid regions, and particularly severe in China (7 million ha), India (20 million ha), Pakistan (3.2 million ha), USA (5.2 million ha), as well as Near East, southern Europe and elsewhere. Demands on production have increased the pressure on existing productive land and moved the limits of production onto increasingly marginal lands. Wise land-use practices have yet to be developed for such conditions. The Executive Director of UNEP reported to the Governing Council in February 1992 concerning the "Status of Desertification and Implementation of the United Nations Plan of Action to Comtat Desertification (PACD)". The Report concludes that major efforts to implement the PACD had gJne into supporting measures rather than concrete corrective field operations. Little evidence of progrl!ss was found in irrigated croplands, rainfed croplands or rangelands. It was recommended that every piece of land should be used in keeping with its ecological characteristics, natural capabilities and constraints.

• biodiversity
• conservation
• plants

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