Monitoring And Assessment Of Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Lıcorice) In Syrdarya Region Of Uzbekistan Using Satellite Time Series And Ground Truth Data

Abstract

Unsustainable agricultural practices have resulted in extensive salinization with the abandonment of large tracts of irrigated land. Among the most effective ways to combat extensive land salinization in Central Asia and beneficially utilize marginal resources is to equip individual farmers and farming communities with efficient, affordable and profitable solutions. Bioremediation with using licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) offers such an efficient alternative solution, however, no structures such as extension services exist to transfer the required knowledge to the farmers and initiate dialog between all actors including governmental authorities. Innovative approach, the formation of Knowledge Alliances including farming and scientific community and officials, offers an alternative. A case study in the Syrdarya province of Central Asia demonstrated a successful out-scaling of research-scale rehabilitation of 105 ha of abandoned irrigated land. Importantly, it offers not only farmer-supported remediation of degraded land, but also benefits to all actors by promoting the development of the local processing industry and international trade. This approach to out-scaling innovations may be an appropriate mechanism that could be promoted by the government. Accomplished researches show that during perennial planting of licorice, condition of vegetation was enough steady, after mowing the vegetation licorice recovers and frequent maximal NDVI values increase during several years. Received data indicates that perennial planting of licorice allows to gradually amelioration of salinity derelict lands. In separate fields where licorice was grown for short-term period and vegetation was demonstrated with combination of licorice and weeds, there was not found ameliorative effectiveness.