POTENTIALITY FOR SOIL-EROSION CONTROL AND IMPROVING PLANT-PRODUCTION IN ARID ZONES .4. FIELD TRIALS AND THEIR RESULTS

For the time being, the field trials in arid zones were done in Egypt as tentative experiments and exact trials in small plots. They were considered preliminary stages of practice-orientated trials. Up to 75 km/h wind erosion was prevented by Bituplant used at a dosage of 750 l/ha or by Sarea Soil Stabilizer used at 100 kg/ha. If wind velocity increased up to 90 km/h, 1500 l/ha of Bituplant or 240 kg/ha of Sarea Soil Stabilizer were needed. Among the crops used the early stages of barley proved extremely resistant to aridity. During the hot season plants emerging from sandy soil may get burned, which will be caused by temperatures too high under the bituminous film. At harvest in June, winter sugar-beet showed a sugar content of 15.6%, and the total sugar content of winter-chicory was 71.2 % in dry matter. In exact trials done in small plots, after Bituplant had been applied, cotton showed better field emergence, higher yield and reduced spotoptera infestation, especially at early cultivation. It was clearly seen that water could be saved by Bituplant or Sarea Evaporation Inhibitor. Very useful results could be obtained concerning product combination and large-scale trials orientated towards practice.