This proposal requests funds for the partial support of a conference on agricultural management in salt-affected areas to be held in October 1990 in Agadir, Morocco. The conference has as its major objective the transfer of information and knowledge on ecophysiological problems relating to saline soils. The PI, Dr. D.W. Rains, is one of the leading active researchers in the field. The conference is organized in cooperation with the Institute Agronomique et Veterinaire Hassan II, a staff member of which, Dr. R. Choukr-Allah, will serve as local organizer. Both the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Interior have been invited to address the conference. Scope: The five-day conference will include invited participants from 24 different countries. Lectures and poster sessions will address the following topics: mechanisms of salt tolerance, genetic aspects of salt tolerance, crop management under saline conditions, halophyte utilization in agriculture, and soil and water management aspects of irrigation with highly saline water. NSF support will help allow seven experts from the U.S. participate in the conference. As the conference is research oriented and focused on developing country problems, this proposal fulfils objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program.
