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Technical Summary
What the project is about

Relevance
Ecological Agriculture in the Middle East

Cooperation
Working together in a troubled region

Sustainability
Water-saving crops of the future

Technical Objectives
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Evaluation
How the plants are doing

Project Map
See the sites

Format
Where and how

Current Status
Project timeline

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Schelcarya caffra bierra, (the marula tree) is native to southern Africa. It is a large "utility" tree which produces generous amounts of small, mango- like fruits, edible oil-bearing kernels and excellent timber. It is extremely drought tolerant and salt tolerant and grows quickly making the tree valuable as a shade tree and windbreaker as well.

Marula Tree

Trees may drop their leaves when temperatures go below zero and there is usually a brief six-week period of dormancy even in sub-tropical climes but the marula tree can bear several degrees of frost without damage. The fruit can be eaten fresh, turned into juice, brandy, marmalade and sweets. The oil pressed from the kernels is a nondrying oil and has valuable cosmetic properties. The tree is easily propagated by by seeds and cuttings. There is currently a 500 tree test orchard at AIES in Israel where appropriate techniques for propagation, rootstock selection, irrigation, harvesting and liqueur production have been developed.

Marula Fruit

Key references: 1. Analyses Made in the Institute for Applied Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Feb 1998. 2. Integrated Sustainable Agroforestry Industrial Crops for the Negev and Arava", E. Solowey, March 1998. Challenge for Frontier Regions Regional Development Seminar, compiled papers and abstracts published by the Center for Regional Development, Beersheva, Israel.




Zisiphus mauritania, (the indian date) is a low bushy tree with felt-like leaves and wicked thorns which produces large amounts of date-like fruits suitable for eating fresh, drying or fermenting into a liqueur. The tree is very hardy, both salt and drought tolerant as well as being able to withstand several degrees of frost. It thrives on sandy and stony soils and can be planted on slopes and terraces.

Zisiphus

Zisiphus trees produce hardwood poles when coppiced. The trees are easily propagated by seeds, cuttings and can be grafted and top-worked to introduce superior scions to hardy local rootstocks.

Key references:1 Zisiphus maurtania-new Crops for Arid and Saline lands", Mizrachi, Raveh, Nerd. The Institutes for Applied Research BGU annual report 1993. 2. Manual of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit, W. Popenoe, Hafner press reprints, 1974. 3. Fruits for Warm Climate, J. Morton, JFM Media Inc.


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For more information on this project, contact Dr. Solowey elaine@desertagriculture.org