4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year?
This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and the Center for Community Development, Nazareth, Israel (see CRIS 4001-22310-002-47S,). Funding is provided under a reimbursable agreement with the Department of State (see CRIS 4001-22310-002-44R) and work is in partnership with the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) (see CRIS 4001-22310-002-48S) and Jordan¿s Ministry of Agriculture (see 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.

The Israeli IMIS project cooperators installed two weather stations in the northern part of the country. This year the Israeli partners conducted two irrigation trials on almonds and cucumber at these two IMIS project sites. The cucumber trial began in May and it was completed at the end of July 2004. The IMIS cucumber experiment was conducted in Tamra region, a city in Western Galilee. The experiment compared different irrigation treatments by utilizing the IMIS weather station in place to provide researchers with the meteorological data required for the experiment. The IMIS almond experiment is located in Iksal, in the valley below Nazareth. The experiment compares different irrigation treatments, and is blocked, randomized and replicated. Plots consisted of five trees in a row, with only the middle three trees being used for measurements. Treatments are 100% of crop water need as assessed using the nearby IMIS weather station and the crop water use information.

The Israeli IMIS cooperators conducted two field days for Iksal IMIS project site and the Tamra project site. Progress in this project include increased scientific cooperation amongst American, Israeli, 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. Preparation for phase II of the IMIS project is under way. The new IMIS activities will build upon and enhance the outcomes of phase I of the IMIS project.