4d.Progress report.
This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) - The Volcani Center (CRIS 0210-22310-002-90S), Israel. Funding is provided under a reimbursable agreement with the Department of State (CRIS 4001-22310-002-44R). Work is conducted in partnership between ARS, the Arab Agronomist Association (AAA), West Bank (CRIS 4001-22310 002-48S); the Center for Community Development, MIGAL, Israel (CRIS 4001-22310-002-47S and 0210-22310-002-79G,) and Jordan's Ministry of Agriculture (CRIS 4001-22310-002-46S). Water scarcity and competing demands for water have become one of the key barriers to sustainable agriculture production in the Middle East. Under the direction of Dr. James Ayars, ARS Water Management Research Laboratory, Parlier, CA, and Dr. Steven Evett, ARS Soil and Water Management Research Unit, Bushland, TX, the Middle Eastern co-operators will work to establish the technological and human infrastructure required to achieve long-term sustained water conservation in the Middle East and the U.S.

Dr. Arnon Dag and his colleagues from ARO, began the implementation phase of the evapotranspiration regulated irrigation scheduling in olive using recycled water. Results of the experiment as it advances will allow development of water saving and yield maximization in closely spaced olive orchards in dry areas and will allow greater understanding of irrigation, water demand, yield, and oil quality in olives. It will also demonstrate the feasibility of recycled water for olive irrigation. The data collected, including meteorological data, will be used for decision making and optimization of available irrigation water and for estimating the potential for deficit irrigation regimes in olive cultivation. Olives are traditionally not irrigated and recent large-scale introduction of irrigation into orchards has highlighted the lack of information regarding response of olives to water, particularly concerning olive oil quality. The objectives of this project are a) to determine the effect of recycled water quality on yield and on oil quality, b) to evaluate methods for determination of soil and plant water status in olive orchards, c) to provide olive growers with tools for optimization of irrigation regimes such that maximum yields and oil quality are achieved with minimum water use. The objective of the experiment during the period of this report was to begin treatments and measurements in a field experiment for evaluating irrigation in a commercial orchard using recycled wastewater. In the experimental site of "Tzabar Kama" adjacent to Kfar Menachem and Revadim in Israel, the irrigation experiment was initiated. Irrigation treatments began in May of 2006; allowing the evaluation of five irrigation levels (30, 50, 75, 100, and 125% of potential evapotranspiration in two varieties ("Souri" amd "Barnea"). Measurement and monitoring of soil moisture, leaf water potential, vegetative growth rate (branch expansion), tree growth rate (trunk circumference), flowering intensity, and fruit growth have been initiated. In the next quarter, fruit yield, oil content and oil quality including chemical and organoleptic characteristics will be measured. Overall progress in this project includes increased scientific cooperation amongst American and Israeli scientists; creation of an agricultural weather station network with an internet site (www.merimis.org), improved knowledge of crop water use for several crops in the region, and positive plans for future collaboration on the pressing water issues of the region.