1. طرح: بهبود بهره وری اراضی تحت تنش شوری (پروژه چالش جهانی برای آب و غذا – مشترک با ایری)،

Development of technologies to harness the productivity potential of salt-affected areas:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

High salt stress is an exacerbating problem, resulting in low productivity and land degradation in both coastal and inland areas. Coastal salt-affected areas vary temporally in water availability and salt accumulation, with salinity caused by seawater intrusion and shallow saline water tables. Intrusion is more severe during the DS. In inland areas, both saline and sodic soils are widespread and progressively expanding because of improper water management practices. Rice is suitable for rehabilitating these salt-affected soils because it can grow under flooded conditions and has high potential for genetic improvement for salinity tolerance. In both coastal and inland salt-affected areas, rice productivity is very low and could be raised by 1.5–2.0 t/ha, providing food for millions of the poorest people living off these lands. The ability to produce more food by using land and water resources that are otherwise unusable would reduce pressure on more favorable areas, thereby improving overall water productivity by making use of areas with poor soil and water quality. The goal of this project was to ensure food security and better livelihood of resource-poor farm families through the development and deployment of high-yielding salt-tolerant rice varieties and non-rice crops, with improved crop and natural resource management (CNRM) practices as well as suitable crop diversity options. The project involved 11 participating institutions, including seven NARES in five different countries. A strong partnership and ownership were established and an effective network approach was implemented for the exchange of material and knowledge. Achievements by the participating institutions are briefly summarized here.

In the Caspian Sea basin, salinity is becoming a major problem for rice production, particularly in years when irrigation water was not sufficient, resulting in the intrusion of saline water through irrigation canals and the uprise of underground saline water. RRII initiated its breeding program for salt-affected areas through this project, with the main target being Guilan and Mazandran provinces in the north, because they have more than 70% of the rice area in the country. The team completed a baseline study, covering, representative villages in the two provinces, and established screening facilities at RRII. Local germplasm was collected and evaluated and a few salt-tolerant genotypes were identified and are being used in breeding. Through INGER, IRSTON nurseries were received and evaluated each season, and nominations from Iran were also included. A large number of crosses was made every year, and segregating materials were advanced and selected. A PVS trial network was established for the first time in these salt-affected areas and used for evaluation of the material generated through the local breeding program or selected through INGER, for evaluation for farmers and for subsequent nomination for release. Through this project, the capacity for research and participatory evaluation was strengthened, and partners participated in several training activities.