Israel networking visit - 2nd and 3rd October 2013

The InfoNitrates Project Manager and two Trainers visited the Agricultural Research Organization in the Volcani Centre at the Ministry of Agriculture between the 2nd and 3rd October 2013. This networking visit was based on the exchange of knowledge between Israel and Malta on the nitrate application in agriculture. In Israel, various experiments on irrigation, fertilization and plant biology were demonstrated to the Maltese delegation. These included research stations involving avocado, banana and mango plantations, where data is being collected mainly on plant biology and nutrient uptake.

In the avocado research station in Acre, automated fertigation experiments using lysimeters indicate that climatic conditions are not as important as plant biology and the time during which fertilizers are applied. Other experiments are being conducted on the oxygen levels in treated water to comprehend the effects on root development in avocado trees which are grown in 1000 litre pots to control the inputs and outputs as well as to identify the exact amount of water used by the plant. Understanding the nutrient availability in the soil is a key factor in this experiment since nutrients may be present in different forms in the soil. Six different irrigation regimes are being experimented to determine the behaviour of water uptake of the plant using lysemeter method.                                                                                                                                       

In a research station on banana and mango trees in the Jordan valley, fertigation experiments are being carried out to determine the water requirements and uptake of plants using different sources of water. Results show that desalinized water lacks certain essential micronutrients that have to be added. This process can save large amounts of fresh water and an innovative technology is being researched in the field of desalinization so that certain essential nutrients are not removed from the water. Desalinized water also decreases the time from which the emergent banana plant grows to replace the parent plant, once the latter dies. In the rhizome layer the banana plant showed uptake of phosphorus and micro elements from water to which measured amounts of citric acid was added. These experiments could well be adapted to Malta with other types of tree crops that could be economically viable to produce in the Maltese Islands.         

A cow farm in the Golan Heights was visited by the Maltese delegation, which had the opportunity to compare the breeding system with that of Malta. It is remarkable to note that Israel dairy cows are global leaders in the production of milk per cow and this came about following years of research and development. Manure which is contained underneath the cows is mixed in-situ using a tractor in order to aerate the manure, reduce its nitrate content, dry it out and eliminate smell. This method leads to a low incidence of mastitis in cows since manure is mixed and dried. Part of the wet manure fraction is being disposed in an experimental forest-forage formation planted with eucalyptus trees which are good absorbers of contaminated water and prevent leaching from the soil.