Developing Climate Smart Strategies for Improving Wheat Productivity in Sultanate of Oman

Wheat is one of the two major staple food crops in the Sultanate of Oman. However, the national wheat production is far below the requirement, primarily due to unavailability of stress resilient genotypes, aridity, water scarcity and heat waves. This necessitates developing novel and innovative climate smart strategies for improving the wheat productivity. In the proposed study, wheat genotypes of diverse morphology and origin, collected from different parts of Oman, ICARDA, CIMMYT and elsewhere, will be evaluated for tolerance against drought and heat stresses, adaptability and resistance against diseases on physiological, molecular and morphological basis. Stress resilient wheat genotypes will be planted, with and without seed priming, under different soil water regimes. Super absorbent biopolymers, developed from date palm wastes, for the first time in Oman, will be evaluated for their potential to improve soil water holding capacity and soil health. Primed seeds of stress resilient wheat genotypes will be planted in conservation agriculture system (with minimum soil disturbance and soil cover with crop residue) together with super absorbent biopolymers and deficit supplemental irrigation. The best bet technology from the research will be disseminated through farmer?s participatory on-farm trials and field days. The proposed project is anticipating increase in wheat production, a step towards national food security in Oman, through the adoption of innovative technologies in wheat production.

Wheat is one of the two major staple food crops in the Sultanate of Oman. However, the national wheat production is far below the requirement, primarily due to unavailability of stress resilient genotypes, aridity, water scarcity and heat waves. This necessitates developing novel and innovative climate smart strategies for improving the wheat productivity. In the proposed study, wheat genotypes of diverse morphology and origin, collected from different parts of Oman, ICARDA, CIMMYT and elsewhere, will be evaluated for tolerance against drought and heat stresses, adaptability and resistance against diseases on physiological, molecular and morphological basis. Stress resilient wheat genotypes will be planted, with and without seed priming, under different soil water regimes. Super absorbent biopolymers, developed from date palm wastes, for the first time in Oman, will be evaluated for their potential to improve soil water holding capacity and soil health. Primed seeds of stress resilient wheat genotypes will be planted in conservation agriculture system (with minimum soil disturbance and soil cover with crop residue) together with super absorbent biopolymers and deficit supplemental irrigation. The best bet technology from the research will be disseminated through farmer?s participatory on-farm trials and field days. The proposed project is anticipating increase in wheat production, a step towards national food security in Oman, through the adoption of innovative technologies in wheat production.