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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Article
Restoration and Conservation of Deteriorated Arid Land by a Native Thorny Shrub Lycium shawii
Author(s)
Modi Mohammed Ahmed and Ali Mohammed Al-Dousari
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DOI:10.17265/2161-6256/2017.02.004
Affiliation(s)
Crisis Decision Program, Environment and Life Science Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait
ABSTRACT
Land degradation is of great concern in the desert environment of Kuwait, as it has a negative
impact on the natural resources. In response to this situation, Kuwait
conserves their natural
environment by setting aside areas of significant natural ecosystem, such as wild life
center at the Liyah area. The area suffered during the past four decades from
severe environmental pressures due to the excessive exploitation of natural
resources of sand and gravel as well as overgrazing and military activities.
Re-vegetation and restoration programs were applied in the degraded areas in
Liyah in December 2003. A large variety of native plants were used for the
restoration, however, in this research, only one native perennial drought
resistant plant Lycium shawii (Awsaj) was highlighted. Tissue cultured thorny shrub planted at experimental site showed high
adaptation on gravel hill side with harsh field condition. Their survival rate
was 100% under drip irrigation only 10% was the mortality rate due to improper
fixation of irrigation system. The average length of the main stem and the
number of branches gradually increased by year from 42 cm with three branches in 2011 to
170 cm with seven branches in 2014.
Since Lycium shrubs have the ability to grow in severely degraded areas,
with extreme condition of prolonged drought, high temperature and poor nutrient
soil as well as their ability to form nabkha, it is considered to be most
suitable shrub used for rehabilitation program at Liyah area.
KEYWORDS
Degraded lands, restoration program, thorny shrub, Lycium shawii.
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