Moisture utilization in semi-arid tropics (summer rainfall agriculture); final technical report, no. 5

Final contractor report covers the period 6/74-12/79, emphasizing the 1978-79 project year; no methodology is specified. UCR has achieved project objectives. UCR has developed an excellent 13,500-item computerized bibliographic data base on soil-water management in dryland and irrigated agriculture and has also established a cooperative relationship with the Consortium for International Development"s computerized agricultural information network. Links -- including scientist exchange programs -- were also forged with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, and with agricultural research institutes throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central America. In addition, UCR participated in several conferences and conducted an international symposium on rainfed agriculture in semiarid regions and has published the symposium proceedings, a state-of-the-art book, a resource directory and bibliography, and 11 articles. In terms of research, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) was selected early on as the crop with which UCR could have the most impact on crop production in semiarid regions. Field projects on cowpea soil-plant-water relationships, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, root development and physical soil properties, breeding for drought resistance, modeling studies of plant growth and yield, and nematology were conducted. UCR"s expertise is being applied under the Title XII Cowpea/Bean Cooperative Research Support Program and other donor efforts. Although UCR implemented projects in Upper Volta and Senegal, A.I.D. provided only two opportunities (in Turkey and Guatemala) for UCR staff to upgrade their advisory capabilities. Nonetheless, with UCR courses relating to moisture conservation/utilization having been added or improved and with eight graduate students having or expecting to complete theses, UCR is now in a position to train LDC graduate students and scientists.