AIR1-CT92-0198 A Contribution to the diversification of the production of vegetable crops by research on cultivation methods and selection of Halophytes European market, adapted to low water availability and saline conditions

Contacts




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AIR Cluster V - Speciality Chemicals : Fibre : Plant Genetics : Vegetable Oil/Fat

	Contract No	AIR1-CT92-0198
	Total Cost	1 747 000
	EC Contribution	1 400 000
	Start Date	01/01/1993
	Duration	48 months

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OBJECTIVE:

Economic crop farming with traditional products is a problem. Support by the EC is indispensable. Due to overproduction, of the traditional crops, resulting in lower prices, there is a need for new products. Cultivation (farming) of saline crops offers an alternative for traditional crops. The production of the new crops takes place on saline or brackish soils. These soils produce usually traditional crops, but the harvest is sub-optimal due to increased salinity levels. By replacing less economical crops with a more exclusive and hence, more profitable crop, the farmers income may increase.

The production system for these crops offers new perspectives in coastal areas. A problem in these areas is the separation of fresh water from saline seepage. The production system under study with its new irrigation techniques offers a strict separation, thus creating a new instrument for efficient land use management. In tropical and subtropical areas, where salinasation threatens the use of arable lands, there is a growing need to cultivate salinized areas. Also in this situation the cultivation of salinecrops may increase agricultural production.

In this project, three experimental fields are to be used, one in the Netherlands (province of Zeeland) and two in Portugal (Aveiro and Leziria Grande, near Lisboa). All three fields are equipped with an experimental irrigation system in order to cultivate saline crops. Plant breeding, plant eco-physiological, plant productivity, soil nutritional and cultivation studies are performed in these fields. The aim is to develop a cultivation technique for saline crops and the selection of an economically interesting variety of the species under study. Four salt plants are studied: Aster tripolium, Salicornia spp. crambe maritima, and Beta vulgaris ssp.maritima.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Dr Ad HUISKES / Netherland Institute of Ecology Centre for Estuarine and Coastal Res / NETHERLANDS

EC Scientific Officer

• Adelmo MOREALE / European Commission DG VI Agriculture BELGIUM

Participant

• Dr E Menezes de Sequeira / Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Technologica (IBET) / PORTUGAL
• Dr Huib EVERSDIJK / Stichting Marine Cultures Oosterscheld NETHERLANDS
• Dr Geert BOGAERT / University of Gent Laboratory Plant Ecology / BELGIUM