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Crop Diversification in Support of Sustainable Agriculture in Khorezm

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Cotton, Water, Salts and Soums

Abstract

Escalating soil degradation caused by soil salinity and rising saline groundwater tables, limits crop production in the irrigated lowlands of arid Uzbekistan. Crop diversification is one option for obtaining more stable farm incomes while improving natural resource use and environmental sustainability. Although the agro-climatic conditions in the country allow growing a wide variety of crops, few crops (cotton, winter wheat, rice, maize) dominate the crop portfolio, which also reflects the restrictions imposed by the state. In the Khorezm region in northwest Uzbekistan, we examined the economic and ecological suitability of alternative crops in a stepwise approach. A literature review resulted in a list of about 30 crops that would theoretically fit the agro-climatic conditions in this region. For field research, five crops with a high potential were selected based on socio-economic (potential income) and bio-physical (potential yield, crop quality, options for soil improvement, water use efficiency) criteria. The crops included sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), potato (Solanum tuberosum), the cash crop indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), and the food and feed crops mung bean (Vigna radiata) and sweet maize (Zea Mays L.). Field experiments were complemented with laboratory analyses and mathematical modeling for estimating the potential economic and ecological benefits from these crops. Three potato varieties from Germany out-yielded the local variety by at least 50%. Sorghum, indigo, maize and mung bean grew well on marginal lands and obtained very high revenues. Findings from the simulation runs demonstrate that crops such as maize for grain, potato and fodder crops could play an important role in coping with risks in drought years and for securing farm income. Field experiments and modeling results based on this extensive data set from Khorezm allow upscaling to regions in Central Asia with similar agro-climatic conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Economics, Farm Management Group, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 13 – Building 12 A, D-10115, Berlin, Germany

    Ihtiyor Bobojonov

  2. ZEF/UNESCO Khorezm Project, Khamid Olimjan Str., 14, 220100, Urgench, Uzbekistan

    John P. A. Lamers, Nodir Djanibekov, Nazirbay Ibragimov & Tamara Begdullaeva

  3. UNESCO office in Tashkent, Amir Temur Str., 95, 100084, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

    Abdu-Kadir Ergashev

  4. International Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the Project Management Agency c/o German Aerospace Center (DLR), Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1, 53227, Bonn, Germany

    Kirsten Kienzler

  5. Urgench State University, Khamid Olimjan Str., 14, 220100, Urgench, Uzbekistan

    Ruzumbay Eshchanov & Azad Rakhimov

  6. ZEF/UNESCO Khorezm Project/Urgench State University, Khamid Olimjan Str., 14, 220100, Urgench, Uzbekistan

    Jumanazar Ruzimov

  7. Center for Development Research (ZEF), Walter-Flex-Str. 3, 53113, Bonn, Germany

    Christopher Martius

Authors
  1. Ihtiyor Bobojonov
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  2. John P. A. Lamers
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  3. Nodir Djanibekov
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  4. Nazirbay Ibragimov
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  5. Tamara Begdullaeva
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  6. Abdu-Kadir Ergashev
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  7. Kirsten Kienzler
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  8. Ruzumbay Eshchanov
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  9. Azad Rakhimov
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  10. Jumanazar Ruzimov
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  11. Christopher Martius
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ihtiyor Bobojonov .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inter-American Institute for Global Chan, Av. dos Astronautas 1758, São Jose dos Campos, 12227-010, Brazil

    Christopher Martius

  2. ZEF/UNESCO Khorezm Project, Khamid Olimjan 14, Urgench, Khorezm, 220100, Uzbekistan

    Inna Rudenko

  3. ZEF/UNESCO Khorezm Project, Khorezm, Uzb, Khamid Olimjan 14, Urgench, Khorezm, 220100, Uzbekistan

    John P.A. Lamers

  4. , Ecology and Natural Resources, Center for Development Research (ZEF), Walter-Flex-Strasse 3, Bonn, 53113, Germany

    P.L.G. Vlek

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Bobojonov, I. et al. (2012). Crop Diversification in Support of Sustainable Agriculture in Khorezm. In: Martius, C., Rudenko, I., Lamers, J., Vlek, P. (eds) Cotton, Water, Salts and Soums. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1963-7_14

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