English abstract
Agriculture accounts for 90 to 98 percent of total groundwater demand in Al-Batinah region. The demand for groundwater is much higher than the natural recharge. Low natural recharge is due to the aridity of Oman. High water demand is due to two main reasons; inefficiency of irrigation, and a cropping system characterized by a high proportion of perennial cropping area. Crop-water requirements of perennial crops are high because of their continuous year-round growth. Most of the perennial crops in Oman are forages such as alfalfa and rhodesgrass. High demand for groundwater with low natural recharge has disturbed the groundwater balance in Al-Batinah. This study attempted to find partial solutions to increase on-farm-efficiency of water use. A comparison was carried out between rhodesgrass and local forage com to determine water-use efficiency and nutritive value. In addition, the study attempted to identify factors influencing farmers' adoption of decisions for annual forage crops in south Batinah. Field studies commenced in November 1996 and concluded in June 1997. Crop-water requirement and dry matter production of two varieties of local forage corn and rhodesgrass were recorded. The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station at Sultan Qaboos University and at a local farm at Rumais. Forage quality analysis as determined by analyzing crude protein, crude fiber, total non-structural carbohydrates, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Fifty farmers from south Al Batinah were interviewed in June 1997. The results revealed that dry matter production (DM) and water-use efficiency (WUE) of forage com (DM was 1.539 kg m/2 cuts and WUE was 2.237 kg mo) was higher than rhodesgrass (DM was 0.995 kg m and WUE was 0.913 kg m). The nutritive value results indicated that forage corn is more nutritious than rhodesgrass, since TNC values were 79.6 and 31.2 g kg* for forage corn and rhodesgrass respectively. Crude fiber (CF), NDF and ADF were 211.9, 467.01 and 274.46 g kg2 and 280.4, 619.00 and 345.74 g kg for forage corn and rhodesgrass respectively. Factors that positively influence farmers' attitude on adopting annual forage crops include the existence of off-farm income, adequate soil, and younger farmers when they have appropriate experience in farming.
