Range management options for sustainable improvement of fodder and livestock production in the dry areas

摘要

The dry areas of the world cover an estimated one-third of the earth's surface.More than one billion people(mostly poor)live on such lands.Animals(small ruminants)play an important role in the livelihood of people in the dry areas.In West Asia and North Africa(WANA),rangeland degradation,over the years,has resulted in feed shortage.This manuscript highlights different options to maximize feed productivity in WANA on: Cropland(rain-fed and irrigated),pasture on non-arable lands and rangelands receiving ＜200 mm.The improvements of feed availability within cropland(rain-fed)include use of legumes such as vetch(Vicia sativa,V.dasycarpa,V.narbonensis)and annual medic.Cereal-shrubs alley farming is an efficient way to utilize cereal stubbles under rain-fed agriculture.In the Arabian Peninsula,where extensive rangeland degradation has led to the widespread use of irrigated exotic forages,the research focused on identifying new forages that use less water.Pastures lands in West Asia have shown significant improvement as a result of annual application of phosphate fertilizer.Over sowing of rangeland receiving ＜200 mm rainfall with fodder shrubs significantly improved fodder availability and sheep productivity.