Science to turn deserts into farms
This is apropos of the news item, ‘Gulf states look to science to turn deserts into farms’ (May 18).
Farming in semi-arid and arid zones with little water supply, high soil salinity and in extreme heat is becoming a serious problem in sustaining agricultural productivity in Sindh and Balochistan.
Dr Rajindra Pachuri, Director-General, Energy and Resource Institute, India, said that Qatar and Quwait have been trying to increase their domestic agricultural supplies through the use of selected types of fungus that enhance the growth of plants in arid areas.
By mixing these special groups of fungi (mycorrhizas) in soil farmland they were able to convert 40,000 square metres in hyper saline wasteland into productive areas where vegetables and grain plants can now grow. Similar projects in Kuwait, India, Oman and the UAE are in progress.
In this regard, I would like to point out that the application of mycorrhizas in soil was carried out by us through a research project. The results of the research work submitted as thesis earned a PhD degree for the research officer in 1992 under the supervision of the scribe.
Another research project, funded by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan on the application of mycorrhizal biotechnology in sunflower (2007-2010) showed an increase in yield, in resisting roof rot attack and in drought mitigation by inoculating the compatible mycorrhizas in soil before sowing sunflower seeds.
On a global basis, more than 90 per cent plants are mycorrhizal. In order to draw benefits accruing from the symbiotic association of mycorrhizas with food, fodder, fibre, horticultural and medicinal plants; the status of mycorrhizal propagules in soil should be enhanced.
There is a good scope for the betterment of sustainable agricultural system in semi-arid and arid regions of Pakistan on the application of mycorrhizal biotechnology.
Farming in semi-arid and arid zones with little water supply, high soil salinity and in extreme heat is becoming a serious problem in sustaining agricultural productivity in Sindh and Balochistan.
Dr Rajindra Pachuri, Director-General, Energy and Resource Institute, India, said that Qatar and Quwait have been trying to increase their domestic agricultural supplies through the use of selected types of fungus that enhance the growth of plants in arid areas.
By mixing these special groups of fungi (mycorrhizas) in soil farmland they were able to convert 40,000 square metres in hyper saline wasteland into productive areas where vegetables and grain plants can now grow. Similar projects in Kuwait, India, Oman and the UAE are in progress.
In this regard, I would like to point out that the application of mycorrhizas in soil was carried out by us through a research project. The results of the research work submitted as thesis earned a PhD degree for the research officer in 1992 under the supervision of the scribe.
Another research project, funded by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan on the application of mycorrhizal biotechnology in sunflower (2007-2010) showed an increase in yield, in resisting roof rot attack and in drought mitigation by inoculating the compatible mycorrhizas in soil before sowing sunflower seeds.
On a global basis, more than 90 per cent plants are mycorrhizal. In order to draw benefits accruing from the symbiotic association of mycorrhizas with food, fodder, fibre, horticultural and medicinal plants; the status of mycorrhizal propagules in soil should be enhanced.
There is a good scope for the betterment of sustainable agricultural system in semi-arid and arid regions of Pakistan on the application of mycorrhizal biotechnology.
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