Smagin RusOrgTech БИОЭРАГРУПП

New Russian technologies of sustainable, melioration and reclamation of arid lands

2

Head of the Physics and Land Amelioration DepartmentHead of the laboratory for Institute of Ecological Soil Science,

MSU 12 years of expirience

Practical study and fieldwork in USAField experience in Arabian Gulf (UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan)

Award winner of European Academy & RAS

Laureate of National Ecological AwardAuthor and co-author of more than 200 scientific studies, articles and manuals

2001 «Dynamics simulation of soil organic substance»2005 «Soil gas phase»

2008 «Ecological Soil resources assessment and technical methods of their reproduction»

2012 «Theory and practice of soil designing»

3

Professor Andrew Smagin, Ph.D, Biology

Our scientific consultants

Main tasks of the report:

• Brief analysis of the ecological situation in Arid Lands and its dynamics according the problem of crops plantation

• Information concerning the new technologies of sustainable desert plantation which are based on Natural and Synthetic Organic Products from Russia and native land resources of Arabian countries.

Ecological situation in Arab countries

• Soil is a main capital of a country, source of life and stable prosperity of its population. People who live in areas with arid climate realize that very well because the territories suitable for farming are very small there.

• According to the estimates of independent experts and international organizations (UNESCWA, FAOSTAT, CAMRE, UNEP, and ACSAD) desertification and degradation of lands have place on the bigger parts of territories in Iraq, Jordan, Syria, the Arabian Gulf countries and other Arab states. With all this going on from 30% to 80% of irrigated lands are subjected to salinization which is the main cause of land degradation suitable for growing plants.

Trend of the soil salinity(Al-busaitine,flood irrigation)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

time

EC, d

Cm

/m

0-25cm25-50cm50-100cm

critical level of salinity

*from the report of Professor of Moscow State University Smagina,1995

Trend of the irrigation water salinity(Al-busaitine,flood irrigation,

Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture of Bahrain)

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Dec,94

Apr,95

Nov,95

Apr,96

Dec,96

June

,97

Dec,97

June

,98

Dec,98

June

,99

Dec,99

Apr,20

00

Jun,2

000

Jan,2

001

June

,2001

Jan,2

002

TDS,

ppm

critical level of salinity

exponential trendy = 1803,1exp( 0,2208x )R2 = 0,9864

source: Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture *from the report of Professor of Moscow State University Smagina,1995

Crops production & salinity of the soil:

0

1020

3040

50

6070

8090

100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

ЕС, dСm/m

yield%

sensitive crops

2-moderately sensitive

3-moderately tolerant

4-tolerant

5-very tolerant

1 53 42

no production, badlands

Native lands of Arabian Gulf nowadays*from the report of Professor of Moscow State University Smagina,1995

The new technologies of sustainable desert gardening, melioration and reclamation of arid lands:

• Desalinization and control of salt table in soils • Reduce of water supply by 50%• Increase of productivity of arid lands, soil

construction• The use of highly-effective organic fertilizers and soil

conditioners, increase of productivity of arid lands• Choice of tolerated vegetation• Ecological assessment and analysis, landscape design

and realization of complex projects• Consulting, training and professional education

Soil constructions and increase of productivity of arid landscapes :

The main idea: to create a special“working layer” by using local ground

materials and Russian organic products in order to increase water holding and nutrient capacity of the soil and destroy the capillary

effects as a main reason of salinity in the irrigated soil.

salts

Wet soil increases the evaporation

Evaporation in wet soil like pump pulls the salt up to the surface

Physical mechanism of salinity increase under irrigation:

salts

Dry soil stops the evaporation and accumulates fresh water


The principal scheme of salinity protective and water accumulated soil construction for Gulf conditions:

Materials:

1. Local sand

2. Local lime stones

3. Russian Natural and Synthetic Organic Conditioners

Salts and ground water

Stones layer destroys the capillary and up movement of the salts

Organic matter The layer holds

the water and nutrients

“Working layer” of the soil for planting


Our technique

There is a way to save water - our way!

Natural & Synthetic Organic Products from Russia for Arid Countries:

Specific area of these agents reaches 500-1000 m2/g in contrast to usual Gulf sands (2-10 m2/g)

Protection Protection from from

SalinitySalinity

Nutrition Nutrition RegulatorRegulator

Stimulates Stimulates Greenery & RootsGreenery & Roots

GrowthGrowth

Increases Increases Chlorophyll Chlorophyll

ContentContent

Improves Improves Nutrient-Holding Nutrient-Holding

CapacityCapacity

Improves Improves Water-HoldingWater-Holding

Capacity Capacity

Organic Organic productsproducts

Advantages of using the organic products:

Main Chemical and Physical properties of Natural & Synthetic Organic Products from Russia :

Complicated Organic fertilizer (COF):Organic matter content min of dry mass – 75-80%Lignin, min of dry mass – 15%Hummates, min of dry mass – 25%pH (H2O) – 4,5-6,5Specific surface – 250-300 m2/g Total holding capacity – 600-1500 mmol/kg

Complicated Organic fertilizer:Mobile macro-elements (mg/l):Nitrogen 500Phosphorus 150Potassium 300Calcium, magnesium 1000Micro-elements (mg/l):Fe – 5-10, B, Ba – 0,2-0,3; Cu – 0,1-0,3; Zn – 0,02-0,05; Mn, Co, Mo, Ni – 0,05-0,1; Se, Th – 0,01-0,03

Liquid Ameliorant:Hummates, min of dry mass – 75%Nitrogen 1500mg/lPotassium 6000 mg/lSpecific surface – 500-600 m2/g Total holding capacity – 4000-5000 mmol/kg





Organic matter Influence filtration it the local sand (Dubai, 1995)

235,1

6814

17271,8

13,7 20,2

5,7

1

10

100

1000

10000

local sand peat 5% peat insand

0,1%hydrogel in

sand

layer ofpeat insand

layer of0,1%

hydrogel insand

layer of100%

hydrogel insand

Filtration rate, cm/day

Decreasing of water infiltration and losses


dept

h of

soil,

cm

volumetric moisture, m3/m3

A technological simulation the regime of moisture content in the soil (model HYDRYS-1D)

dept

h of

soil,

cm


Control - sand substrate: strong loss

in the upper zone

Dynamics of moisture after gravity drainage and evapotranspiration of lawn

0.2% Hydrogel or COF 20 cm layer Increase the top water-

holding


dept

h of

soil,

cm

0.1% Hydrogel or COF 10 cm layer -can keep moisture on top:


*сут=day

A technological modeling - it increases water retention and prolongation of the root consumption by using layers

of peat-sapropel soil-modifiers


Examples of salinity protective and water accumulated soil construction for Gulf conditions based on Russian

materials:

10 cm

40cm

Natural sand

Crushed stones layer

20% Gardening Peat in Localsand

50cm

50cm

10% COFin Localsand

10% COF in Sweet

sand

10 cm

40cm

Natural sand



50cm

50cm

10% COFin Localsand

10% COF in Sweet

sand

10 cm

20cm

Natural sand


20% Peatin Local sand

30cm10% COF in Local

sand

10 cm

20cm

Natural sand


20% Peatin Local sand

30cm10% COF in Local

sand

10 cm

20cm

Natural sand



50cm

50cm

10% COFin Localsand

10% COFin Sweet

sand

10 cm

20cm

Natural sand



50cm

50cm

10% COFin Localsand

10% COFin Sweet

sand

10 cm

20cm

Natural sand



50cm

50cm

10% COFin Localsand

10% COFin Sweet

sand

5cm

10cm

5cm

Natural sand


10% COF or Peat in Local sand

20% COF in Local sand

Palms Medium size trees

Shrubs

Lawns


“It’s time to collect stones” (crushed stones in soil – good local materials for salt protected screens)

Photos from the personal archive of Professor Smagin, 1995

New technology of lawn plantation (Qatar, Ministry of Agriculture, summer 2005)

Crush stone screen – protection from salts &

Russian organic fertilizer

At the beginning of soil construction

Lawn 5 weeks after plantingPlanting and lawn 1 weeks after

planting


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Irrigation (optimization of water supply):

The main idea: Strongly decrease water losses

(by 50%) in the soil and input water only for plants demands (for evapotranspiration)

Irrigation system

75%

59% of all Quatari water goes to irrigation and livestoke

Irrigation We deal with all types of irrigation, including

completely automatical

*from the report of Professor of Moscow State University Smagina

Probability distribution of irrigation depth(Bahrain, Rowdah Palace, May 2005, lawn)

0,00

5,00

10,00

15,00

20,00

25,00

30,00

35,00

40,00

45,00

<3 3-6 6-9 9-12 12-15 15-18 18-21 >21

classes of irrigation depth (l/m2)

Probability, %Dominated values:

15-18 l/m2

Maximal demands of water 7-8 l/m2:

Choice of vegetation:The main idea: If the soil and

irrigated water are not good – let choose tolerant crops

A set of technological methods for growing of vegetable production is aimed at minimization of unfavorable nature factors and maximum realization of own plant’s potential to achieve stable farming in arid conditions.

In this connection, the set of the methods joins multiplicity of actions regarding both plants themselves and their habitat. It is first of all – choice of vegetative crop depending on behavior, productivity and tolerance. There is no doubt that selection is carried out in accordance with the requirements of a customer.

Choosing of Vegetation & Planting

Theoretically, the Ideal Soil technologies make it possible to meet any demands, including the most complicated one - growing of exotic kinds of plants, unusual for that climate. But for steady farming with minimum expenditures it is better to fix upon the most viable, tolerant forms of plants with the required merit.

They are easily distinguished when analyzing the summary data displayed in the following tables, which contain information about the most widely spread in the Arabian Gulf area vegetable crops, their needs, vitality and specificity of growing.

To make it more suitable for work, the information is grouped into separate classes of vegetation: vegetables, flowers and grasses, ground covering plants, bushes, and trees.


For example: if the area under the object is heavily salinized, has no natural shading, the irrigation water is of low quality, and the client has no enough money and time for fundamental land-improvement of the area, it is necessary to chose the most tolerable and undemanding crops. Among trees and palms they may be Thorn Tree (Prosopis juliflore), Tamarisk, Date Palm, Washington Palm, Australian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), Christ-thorn Tree, Jerusalem Thorn, Conocarpus, Eucalypt, Wild Tamarind Tree. Among bushes - Salt Bush (Atriplex sp.), Arabian Lilae, Wild Jasmine, Yellow Oleanders, Pomegranate, ground covering plants – Camel’s Foot Creeper, green lawns on the basis of salt resistant grasses (Bermuda grass, Seaisle Paspalum, Bermuda Hybrid, etc.).


Small areas may be provided with antisalt masks, and some amount of the 10-20% NOP-GR may be introduced into the soil.

In this case it becomes possible to grow drought-resistant flowers and grasses (Amaranthus, Basil, Calliopsis, Common GardenThyme, Marigolds, Painted Daisy, Petunia, Sun Plant, Zinnia etc.) and many vegetable crops (Cucumbers, Beans, Melons, Okra, Peas, Peppers, Pumpkins, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Watermelons etc.).

Thus, even in the most unfavorable conditions it is quite possible to organize stable farming and cultivate various kinds of vegetation.


Water use by most popular products in Qatar

More suitable vegetation for landscaping in Gulf :

Thorn Tree

Tamarisk

Date Palm

Washington Palm

Casuarina

Christ-thorn Tree

Jerusalem Tree

Conocarpus

Wild Tamarind Tree

Eucalypts

1. Palms & Trees

(very tolerate salinity, alkalinity and drought)

Photos from the personal archive of Professor Smagin

More suitable vegetation for landscaping in Gulf :2. Shrubs & Ground covering plants

(very tolerate salinity, alkalinity and drought)

Ipomoea pes-caprea

Pink Oleander

PomegranateYellow Oleanders

Arabian Lilae

Wild JasmineSalt Bush


More suitable vegetation for landscaping in Gulf :

3. Lawns, Flowers & Herbs

(tolerate drought, adapted salinity and alkalinity)

Bermuda grass

Seaisle Paspalum

Bermuda hybrid Zinnia

Sun plant

Pinks

Four O’clock Flower

Balsam

Amaranthus Flowering Tobacco


More suitable vegetation for agriculture in Gulf:

4. Vegetables & Crops

(tolerate drought, salinity and alkalinity)

Tomatoes

Sweet potatoes or Yams

Peppers Chili

Melons

Eggplant

Cucumbers

Beans

Peas

The soil and water testing and controls.

The main idea:

Automatic control of the territory by using new programming loggers

Ecological follow up of a project, monitoring.

Monitoring of technical characteristics and ecological condition of the object is provided automatically with the help of autonomous electronic micro sensors.

Besides the information about possible causes of failures in functioning of the object, monitoring makes it possible to find out how conscientiously the maintenance staff follows the technological recommendations in operating the object.

Let us give some examples. A fragment of monitoring of temperature and humidity in Sakhir area in Bahrain is represented in the pictures. There is a forest planted with the use of the Ideal Soil (Organic farming) system.

Examination of the condition of plants in the outlying zone displayed depression in growth of some plants compared to the general successful background. In particular, signs of evident shrinking of neem trees (Azadirachta indica) were registered whereas a standing near eucalyptus tree was in absolutely normal condition.

Analysis of the information registered by micro sensors «hygrochron» (USA) made it clear that the soil under the neem tree has been overheated up to extreme temperatures and in the soil practically there was no moisture available for the tree roots.


Temperature control in the irrigated soil in Sakhir area(iButton hygrochron technic)

05

1015202530354045505560

16:0

1

21:4

3

3:25

9:07

14:4

9

20:3

1

2:13

7:55

13:3

7

19:1

9

1:01

6:43

12:2

5

18:0

7

23:4

9

5:31

11:1

3

16:5

5

time

Tem

pera

ture

,o C

eucalyptneem

Critical values

Subsequent examination of the irrigation system made it clear that the irrigating moisture has not come to the root zone of the tree because the water nozzles have been clogged. Thus, monitoring made it possible to find quickly the cause of unfavourable condition of the plant and gave recommendations how to eliminate it.


Efficiency of new technologies comparing with traditional plantation:

-Lawns (Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain)- Vegetables & Crops (Qatar, Bahrain)

- Trees & Shrubs (Bahrain)

The main idea: Look and compare

Experiment with Lawn Plantation in Dubai

Site E, control

Site B, Russian strong-swelled

synthetic hydrogel

Site C, Russian gardening peat

Site A, Dubai horticultural station

treatment


Some results of lawn plantation experiment (U.A.E., Dubai)

Fresh biomass (g/m2)

0

500

1000

1500

usual planting new technology

C, g/m2

Chlorophyll content (mg/g)

012345


C, mg/g

Dry biomass (g/m2)

0

100

200

300

400

500


C, g/m2

Irrigation water (liter/m2/day)

0

5

10

15

20


Q, l/m2

Some results of lawn plantation experiment (U.A.E., Dubai, Smagin, 2012, 2014)

2 months was enough to solve the problem of salinity in full

Lawns in privets(the Kingdom of Bahrain, 2004-2005)

New technology, based on Russian organic fertilizer

Conventional Method Conventional Method

New technology, based on Russian organic fertilizer


Results of vegetable plantation experiments based on application Russian organic fertilizer

(Bahrain, Ministry of Agriculture 2004-2005)


Productivity for winter and summer season

The use of COF reduces the irrigation water requirement by 50%

Results of vegetable plantation experiments based on application Russian organic fertilizer

(Qatar, Ministry of Agriculture, summer 2005)


Cucumbers plantation based on new technologies and Russian organic fertilizer

(Qatar, Ministry of Agriculture, summer 2005)

5 weeks after plantingPhotos from the personal archive of Professor Smagin

New technology based on Russian organic fertilizer

Traditional planting

Trees plantation in Sakhir area (the Kingdom of Bahrain, 2003)

*Photos from the personal archive of Professor Smagin









After two years: Trees plantation in Sakhir area (the Kingdom of Bahrain, 2005)



AridGrow-AridGrow-Ideal SoilIdeal Soil

Palms & shrubs plantation based on Russian organic fertilizer (private villa, the Kingdom of Bahrain)


Main conclusions:

• Soil constructions based on natural and synthetic Russian materials are effective for organic farming and landscaping in arid conditions.

• Field experiments show in U.A.E, Qatar, Bahrain that modern technologies allows:

reduce the irrigation water requirement 50-60% (lawns, alfa-alfa, tomato, cucumbers)

increase the yield of plants 10-50% Increase tree and shrubs grow and planting effect 50% protect soils from salinity and degradation 100%

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new-generation bioorganic fertilizers on the basis of Vermicompost (biohumus), Microalgae biomass, natural Sapropel and Peat.

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+7(499)322-91-91 [email protected]

Don’t miss the opportunity to get an absolutely free consult from

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