Irrigation
ININTHE THEDESERT DESERTRDI RDI IS
environmental scien�sts that the desert can Why is RDI trying to grow crops in openenvironmental scien�sts that the desert can
Why is RDI trying to grow crops in open fields in the Desert? fields in the Desert?
support crop produc�on, offering an affordable
support crop produc�on, offering an affordable
solu�on for food security. In this field, a�er the Abu Dhabi, like many other na�ons, is concernedsolu�on for food security. In this field, a�er the Abu Dhabi, like many other na�ons, is concerned large rocks had been raked, a tape injector about food security, water scarcity, and climatelarge rocks had been raked, a tape injector about food security, water scarcity, and climate implement was used to bury the RDI tubing change. They have focused their a�en�on on implement was used to bury the year, RDI the tubing underground. In January of this first change. AgTech They have focused on and innova�ons andtheir begana�en�on seeking out underground. In field January of this year, with the major first por�on of this trial was completed AgTech suppor�ng innova�onscompanies and began out innova�ve and thatseeking are offering por�on of thisThe fieldRDI trial system was completed major success. reduced with water and suppor�ng companies that are offering innova�ve solu�ons to these problems. In many desert areas, success. Theconsump�on RDI systemby reduced and fer�lizer more thanwater 40%, while solu�onshigh to these problems. many desert salinity soil andInground water, areas, create an fer�lizer consump�on byachieving more than more40%, thanwhile 100% untenable high salinity soil environment and ground for water, create an higher more yields than compared achieving 100%to cropenvironment produc�on. for untenable standard irriga�on.to higher yieldsdrip compared crop produc�on. Many countries in this standard drip irriga�on. The field produced 3-4 ears of region depend upon farming Many countries in this sweet3-4corn Thehigh-grade field produced ears per of from other countries, which region depend upon farming every stalk. A�er being high-grade sweet corn per requires that much of the from other countries, which harvested, the stalks every stalk. A�er being food is imported, in order requires that much of the were cut and sold for to feed the people living harvested, the stalks green fodder for livestock. In food is imported, in order within the area. The RDI technology is were cut and sold for an effort to implement regenera�ve to feed the people living working to restore this region into arable land that green fodder for livestock. In farmingprac�ces, a�er the sweet corn was within the The RDI technology is will area. be capable of feeding the popula�on, while an effort to �llage implement regenera�ve harvested, no soil was performed. One working restoring to restorethe thissoil region into arable land that health and conserving water farmingprac�ces, a�er the sweet corn was sec�on was reseeded for another crop of sweet will be capable resources.of feeding the popula�on, while harvested, �llage was corn andnothesoil remaining fields performed. were seededOne with
restoring the soil health and conserving water
A 5-hectare sweet corn field trial, in Al Kha�m area,sec�on for another crop of sweet beetwas rootreseeded for the summer crop. The recently sown
resources.
which was planted in the Fall of 2021 iscorn seeds haveremaining germinated andwere are seeded demonstra�ng and the fields with demonstra�ng farmers, and development. A 5-hectare sweet corntofield trial,agronomists, in Al Kha�mand area, beetexcellent root for growth the summer crop. The recently sown
which was planted in the Fall of 2021 is
seeds have germinated and are demonstra�ng
demonstra�ng to farmers, agronomists, and
WW W development. .RESPONSIVEDRIP.COM excellent growth and
24 Gulf Agriculture | www.gulfagriculture.com
March-April 2022
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