2. Materials and methods
2.1. Characterization of the study area
The field trials were conducted for three growing seasons
during 2013e15 on the experimental farm of the International
Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), located on the eastern
side of Dubai between 25 50N and 55 230E with an elevation of
30 m above mean sea level. Being close to sea shore, soil salinity
and waterlogging problems are widespread. The soil of the
experimental field is Carbonatic, Hyperthermic Typic Torripsamment
having a negligible level of inherent soil salinity
(0.2 dS m1). To keep the area drained and to control soil salinization,
a sub-surface drainage system is installed at a 2 m
depth in the experimental farm.
The study area is characterized by hot and dry summer
(AprileOctober) with temperature reaching to 45 C, while the
winter (DecembereFebruary) is cool and dry with average nighttime
temperature of 10 C. Air temperature follows a regular
seasonal trend, with a minimum in January and a maximum in
July. According to the ICBA weather Station data (2013e2015);
the average annual temperature of the study area was 10 C
during January while average maximum temperature was 45 C
during July. The average annual rainfall is less than 80 mm and
falls in short, torrential bursts during the summer months. The
study area is prone to occasional, violent dust storms, which can
severely reduce the visibility.
2.2. Experimental design and data collection