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Mandate/Mission

based on the development of a sustainable management of water resources in irrigated agriculture. The action plan toward improving on-farm water use efficiency is being now conducted at three levels:

  • Using natural water resources efficiently and safely;

  • Increasing agricultural water use efficiency to meet future food requirement;

Use of non-conventional water for the irrigation of open field crops


Staff

  • Head of Department: Eng. Randa Massaad (M. Sc. in Irrigation);
  • Two Research Assistant: Eng. Sleiman Skaf, Eng. Randa Massaad ;
  • two Technical Assistant: Rafic Lahoud, Hassan Mounzer;
  • Computer Specialist: Eng. Nisrine Hajj ;
  • Computer Technician: Miss Nahed Fouany ;                                      

Contact person: Eng Randa Massaad, Head of Department, E-mail: rmassaad@lari.gov.lb   


On going projects

The objectives of the multidisciplinary research program are (i) to increase the environmental awareness due to water scarcity and heightened long perspectives views for a sustainable irrigated agriculture (ii) to describe the current problems deriving from water management in semi-arid ecosystems and propose solutions for their corrections and (iii) to provide sound irrigation information to water managers and users.

The research program includes:

  • Updating the measurements of reference evapotranspiration for calculating  crop water requirements under open field conditions;

  • Optimizing the use of modern irrigation techniques at field level;

  • Optimizing the performance analysis of the irrigation systems;

Increasing water use efficiency of cultivated crops.

 

1.       The Effects of Water Deficit On Crop Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality And Water Use Efficiency Of Zucchini Squash (Cucurbita Pepo L.) In A Mediterranean Climate 

 

Objectives:

The first objective of the current research was to determine daily and seasonal evapotranspiration of zucchini using a weighing lysimeter. The second objective was to study the effects of deficit irrigation on growth, yield, quality, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll content, radiation and water use efficiencies of this crop. A third objective can be derived from the measurement of crop coefficients (Kc) based on lysimetric data, and to provide an outline for zucchini squash irrigation under the semi-arid conditions of the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. 

Starting Date                          2010

Ending Date                             2010

Participating Organizations

Lebanese University, Faculty of Agronomy.

 

 

2.       Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L) Improvement For Water Use Efficiency Through Morpho-Physiological Studies

 

Objectives:

This study aimed to investigate the effect of rainfed and supplemental irrigation treatments on   agronomical, physiological responses, and water use efficiency of several faba bean lines in a Mediterranean environment. 

Starting Date                        2009

Ending Date                          2012

Participating Organizations

ICARDA-Aleppo, LebaneseUniversity, Faculty of Agronomy.

 

3.       Evaluation of Drought Tolerance In Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L) Lines In Macroclimatic Zones In Lebanon: Kferden And Terbol

 

Objectives:

This study aimed to evaluate the drought tolerance of 20 lines of faba bean cultivated in two microclimate zones in Lebanon: Terbol-semi-arid region (central of Bekaa) and Kferdan arid region (north of the Bekaa)

Starting Date                        2009

Ending Date                          2010

Participating Organizations

ICARDA-Aleppo, LebaneseUniversity, Faculty of Agronomy

 

4.       Improvement in Grey Water Quality for Agricultural Reuse and Community-Based Interventions Leading to Safe And Productive Use of Grey Water for Crop Productions Systems. 

 

Objectives:

A- Increase in public awareness regarding safe and productive use of greywater;                 

B-Availability of reliable and sustainable irrigation water source;

C- Increase in household income through better garden    production, reduced     water charges and decreased septic pool pumping costs;

D-Reduction in environmental and health risks.

Starting Date                        2009

Ending Date                          2011

Participating Organizations

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

 

5.       Establishing a New Automated Agro-Weather Network of 44 Synoptic Stations in The Foreseen of Early Warning System for Disease And Pest.

 

Objectives:

A- Pest and Disease Forecast Service

B-Managing, downloading, collecting and archiving all climatic data at Tal Amara mother station

C- 10 Days weather Forecast for Tal Amara, Fanar, Abdeh and Tyr stations

Starting Date                        1997

Ending Date                          -----

Participating Organizations

European Union

 

 


Achievements 

During the period 1998-2000 the Department participated to the following projects:

1) "Desertification in the Mediterranean Drylands: Development of a Monitoring System Based on Plant Ecophysiology" (1998-2000), European Commission, INCO-DC, University of Trieste (Italy), CIHEAM-MAICH, Greece;

2) Euro-Mediterranean Network on "Collective Irrigation Systems CIS_Net" (1998-2000), Regional Action Program of the European Commission, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (Italy), the National Water Resources Center in Egypt


Other Activities

During the period 2002-2004, the following collaborative projects are planned:

1) “Influence of climate and agronomical techniques on the essential oils produced by Mediterranean officinal plants” (2002-2004), European Commission, 5th framework, Med-Project of Italian National Council for Research (CNR);

2) “Rural Development Project of Upper Bakaa Valley, Baalbeck El Hermel Region” (2003-2006), with Cooperazione Italiana of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3) Specific targeted research or innovation EU-Project on “Management Improvements of WUE and NUE of Mediterranean Strategic Crops (Wheat and Barley), acronym WatNitMed.

Steps ahead for future collaboration

1) Kyoto Protocol of the “United Nations Convention on Climate Change” (UNCCC);

2) United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)


Recent Publications

F. Karam, O. Mounzer, F. Sarkis, and R. Lahoud. 2002. Yield and Nitrogen Recovery of Lettuce Under Different Irrigation Regimes. Journal of Applied Horticulture. 13: 285-295.

F. Karam, J. Breidy, C. Stephan, and Joe Rouphael. 2003. Evapotranspiration, Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Drip Irrigated Corn in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. Agricultural Water Management, 63: 125-137.

F. Karam. 2004. Automated climatic database for a sustainable productivity and management of agricultural systems in Lebanon. World Meteorological Organization. WMP, Report series, 42: 179- 183.

F. Karam and O. Mounzer. 2004. Water demand and irrigation development. Steps towards securing future requirements. In: A. Leone and A. Basile (Eds.), Managing Water Demand in Agriculture through Pricing. Research Issues and Lessons Learned. 125-135.

F. Karam, R. Masaad, T. Sfeir, O. Mounzer and Y. Rouphael Evapotranspiration and seed yield of field grown soybean under deficit irrigation conditions. Agricultural Water Management. In press.

F. Karam, R. Lahoud, R. Masaad, C. Stephan, Y. Rouphael, and G. Colla. Yield and tuber quality of potassium treated potato under optimum irrigation conditions. In press in Acta Horticulturae.

F. Karam, R. Lahoud, C. Darido, F. Dirani, Y. Rouphael and G. Colla. Potassium recovery of potato under optimum irrigation conditions. In press in Acta Horticulturae.

F. Karam, R. Lahoud, R. Masaad, C. Stephan, Y. Rouphael, G. Colla. 2009. Yield And Tuber Quality Of Potassium Treated Potato Under Optimum Irrigation Conditions, ISHS, 1-1.

 

F. Karam, R. Masaad, R. Bachour, C. Rhayem and Y. Rouphael. 2009. Water and Radiation Use Efficiencies in Drip-irrigated Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.):Response to Full and Deficit Irrigation Regimes, Europ.J.Hort.Sci, 74: 1-7.

 

F. Karam, R. Lahoud, R. Masaad, R. Kabalan, J. Breidi, C. Chalita, Y. Rouphael. 2007. Evapotranspiration, Seed Yield And Water Use Efficiency Of Drip Irrigated Sunflower Under Full And Deficit Irrigation Conditions, ELSEVIER, 90: 213-223.

 

F. Karam, R. Lahoud, R. Masaad, A. Daccache, O. Mounzer, Y. Rouphael. 2006. Water Use And Lint Yield Response Of Drip Irrigated Cotton To The Length Of Irrigation Season, ELSEVIER,  85: 287-295.

 

E. Choueiri, R. Massad and F. Jreijiri. 2005. First Report Of A 16srii Group Phytoplasma Associated With Shoot Proliferation Of A Cactus (Opuntia Monacantha) in Lebanon. APS net, 89:1129.

 

F. Karam, R. Masaad, T. Sfeir, O. Mounzer, Y. Rouphael. 2005. Evapotranspiration And Seed Yield Of Field Grown Soybean Under Deficit Irrigation Conditions, ELSEVIER, 75: 226-244.

 

E. Choueiri, S. El-Zammar, F. Jreijiri, D. Mnayer, R. Massaad, A. T. Saad, L. Hanna and C. Varveri. 2004. Phytosanitary Status Of Potato In The Bekaa Valley In Lebanon, OEPP/EPPO, Bulletin 34, 117-121.

 

F. Karam, J. Breidy, C. Stephan, J. Rouphael. 2003. Evapotranspiration, Yield And Water Use Efficiency Of Drip Irrigated Corn In The Bekaa Valley Of Lebanon, ELSEVIER, 1851: 1-13.

 

F. Karam, Rafic Lahoud, S. Skaff, S. H. Hassan. 2002. Stress Hydrique Et Fertilisation Azotée : Effets Sur La Production De La Betterave A Sucre Au Liban, SECHERESSE, 13:113-9.

 

F. Karam, S. Skaf, S. Hajj Hassan and R. Lahoud. 2001. Influence du Stress Hydrique et du niveau de la Fertilisation Azotée sur la croissance, le Rendement et la Qualité Technologique de la Betterave à Sucre, MAGON, 1:45-54.

 

A. Charanek, S. Hajj Hassan And S. Skaf . 2001. تأثير نسب مختلفة من الأزوت، الفوسفور  والبوتاس على إنتاجية ونوعية البطاطا . MAGON, 1:17-33.


Conference

International Conference on "Photosynthesis in a Changing World" (PHOTOCHANGE), Chania, Crete, 27 May - 3 June, 2003. European Union, CNR-Rome, NAGREF-Chania, CSIRO-Australia.

>International conference on ‘Improvement of potato tuber quality: size uniformity, nutritional value and processing attributes’. European Association for Potato Research. International Society of Horticultural Science. Viterbo, Italy, 14-16 June 2004


 

 
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