EVALUATION OF RAINFED AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS AN APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN NORTHWESTERN COAST (NWC), EGYPT

Sustainable development can be possible in rainfed agriculture by integrated approach of soil management measures. Soil quality in the form of a quantitative index is used as an indicator of environmental quality and sustainability. Twelve farms selected to achieve the targets of the present investigation (six farms under traditional rainfed agriculture system and six farms under rainfed with supplemental irrigation) at Northwestern Coastal Zone (NWCZ). These farms varied in land use and management practices concerning fertilization practices, tillage system, crop type and cultivated period. This study selected some soil indicators vis-à -vis soil physicochemical properties of the selected farms of studied areas at NWCZ. The rating of soil quality index (SQI) and relative of soil quality (RSQI) values in this study were higher towards to rainfed agriculture with supplement irrigation farms than in traditional rainfed farms. In addition, most of the values of soil quality change (∆RSQI) were moderately increase (class II) and most of these farms were under traditional rainfed management. The results of cumulative rating index CRI showed a negative correlation and significant relationship with RSQI (R2=0.82, p<0.05). concerning the impacts of soil quality on productivity, the relationship between relative yield (Ry %) and RSQI was positive significant correlation (R2=0.78, p<0.05). Also, CRI showed negative significant correlation with Ry% (R2=0.81, p<0.05). Moreover, the highly soil quality class I, highly sustainability, low changes in soil quality and highly crop yield observed was in the farms under rainfed with supplemental irrigation system and good fertilization practices (NPK+organic manure). So, this study recommended to expansion rainfed with supplemental irrigation management system and add suitable dose of NPK application with manure along scientific lines to encourage crop yields that can be achieved on a sustainable basis, but it need a long time to reach class I quality and highly sustainable status.