Summer Crops in Syria

Abstract

This paper gives background information on rainfed summer crops in Syria, with reference to the NW Provinces of Aleppo and Idleb. Most of the information relates to watermelon, sesame, and musk melon which together account for almost 60 per cent of the total area planted in summer. The part played by summer crops in the rainfed rotation of NW Syria is discussed in the first section. The author treats summer crops as an alternative to fallow and discusses the effect of these different rotation components on a subsequent wheat crop. The second section summarizes the information on summer crops collected from group interviews in 20 villages in 1978. The different varieties, cultural practices, harvesting and labor requirements, pests and diseases, contractual arrangements and the profitability of the watermelon crop are described. The final section presents a hypothetical model which gives a simplified framework for discussing the role of summer crops and fallow in a rotation where wheat is the next crop. This simple model could be important in discussing the effects of: i. A change in the profitability of wheat through new varieties and/or cultural practices. ii. The introduction of forage legumes into the rotation. Appendices give information on agricultural zones in Syria, soil types, the effect of rainfall on summer crop yields and a checklist of the information collected from farmers.