Production of some oil crops on the desert soils 

of Wadi El-Assiuti, Assiut Governorate using 

the modern irrigation fertilization techniques

P.I. El-Sayed Mahmoud Shalaby

Prof. of Crop Science, Assiut University

  The gab between production and consumption of food oil in Egypt is steadily increases.  Local production of oil represents about 10% of the total requirements.  This means that 90% of the requirements are annually imported which resembles an increasing stress on the national budget.  Since, the caltivatable area in the Nile Valley and Delta is limited, attention should be directed to the desert to cultivate part of it with some oil crops, either in winter or in summer using the modern irrigation and fertilization techniques.

Objectives:

1-  Evaluation of the success of some winter and summer oil crops when cultivated on the desert area using sprinkler and drip irrigation techniques and fertilization through irrigation systems.

2- Assessment of the best backage of treatments to maximize oil crops productivity on the desert areas.

3-  Enhancing the investments in cultivating oil crops on the desert which should be accompanied by some agro-industrial activities in the same area.

4-  Training of farmers and investors on the best management to cultivate oil crops on Toushki, East Oainat and Siena.

Important Results:

1-  Higher seed yields of some hybrids of sunflower were obtained on the desert land using drip irrigation and fertilization techniques.  Yield obtained was 2 tons/feddan.

2- In winter, Canola oil crop was promising as a winter crop, where c.v. Serw 4 produced about 1.9 tons/feddan on the desert of Wadi El-Assiuti.

3- The best sowing date for Canola in Assiut was the first of October.

4-  The best backage of treatments to maximize oil crops production was obtained.

5- The percentage of uricic saturated fatty acid was below 1.0% as recommended.

6-  Quantity of irrigation water was equal to the evapotranspiration, which means saving a considerable quantity of irrigation water.

  Financial support:  Ministry of International Cooperation.