Research Results - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

eing collected on shoot growth, the population
of achenes in the soil, seedling establishment,
and plant mortality of Artemisia.
Data collected in a previous study are
being used in a simulation model of growth and
shoot demography of white sage under various
rainfall regimes. Some general features are
emerging from this study. These are: a summer
mortality of 20-27% irrespective of rainfall, new
shoots appear following late spring rains, and
only three to four new shoots occur on woody
branches irrespective of moisture conditions.
Steppe vegetation is a mosaic of Artemisia-dominated
and Stipa-dominated communities
covering 50 million hectares of the semi-arid
zone in North Africa and the Middle East.
These lands are used for grazing by small
ruminants. Heavy grazing imposes additional
pressure on these areas and it is important to
learn which stocking rate both the animals and
ecosystems will tolerate. Four stocking rates
using rams are being studied, with 1991 providing
the third year of data. Since effects occur
over time, preliminary results must be viewed
with caution. As stocking rates increased,
animals spent more time grazing and walked
further but the rams were able to maintain diet
quality. Daily gains declined with heavier
stocking rates. When these studies are completed,
the results will be an important contribution
to the literature.
Another important component of the SR-
CRSP in the Eastern plateau system has been a
study of 45 flocks managed by producers. The
objective was to characterize the total livestock
production system and identify the limits on
p.Animportant finding was that
produceti linternational
producers with large flocks with more intensive
management manaemen hae have loer lower mortality ortaityand and more ore
offspring per breeding unit than producers with
smaller flocks of sheep.
104
Research Results
Introduction
The 1989-90 year was the final year in a
decade of SR-CRSP range research in Morocco.
Three years ago USU assumed responsibility for
the last phase of the range management compo­
nentof - f te ne emete
Middle Atlas region were terminated and the
project focused its attention on the semi-arid
steppe ecozone dominated by Stipa tenacissima
(alfa grass) and Artemisia herba-alba(white sage)
vegetation. The semi-arid steppe covers extensive
areas of Morocco and North Africa and is
an important resource for small ruminant
production; indeed, it has little agricultural
value for any commodity other than livestock
due to the low and highly variable rainfall.
Some of the range research projects
conducted during these last three years have
been completed; some will continue into 1991
and be supported by the Institut Agrono19que
et Veterinaire Hassan II(IAV) and, hopefully,
the assistance of a small linkage grant. The
present reporting period (1989-90) whose research
highlights are reported below, has been
marked by an emphasis on synthesizing research
results, an on-going activity that will
s earhr anon-onar tvthtl
The medium-term goal is the production
of a technical package presenting state-of-the-art
knowledge on the Mediterranean steppe typifled
by the Moroccan ecosystems, with recommendations
for management for resource
conservation and sustainable production.
Publication of this bulletin may be linked to an
symposium on the same topic to
b edi ooc.Tuatog ehv
be held in Morocco. Thus, although we have
reached the end of a fully funded SR-CRSP
range management program in Morocco, we
anticipate continuation of the collaborative
relationship forged during the CRSP years.