Effets de l’apport en Bois Raméal Fragmenté (BRF) sur les caractéristiques physico-chimiques du sol oasien du Sud Tunisien

L’amendement du sol avec des branches, notamment avec des bois rameaux fragmentes (BRF), suscite un intérêt croissant chez les agriculteurs et les services de vulgarisation, Cet article présente les résultats concernant l’effet d’apports enfouis de BRF sur le sol oasien de la zone de Tozeur dans deux sites différentes oasis El Manachie et oasis de CRAAO. L’apport de BRF a généralement un effet positif sur les propriétés physico-hydriques du sol (humidité, porosité structure), enrichit le sol en matière organique, stimule l’activité biologique, et accroit la disponibilité des nutriments à moyen terme. Les effets des BRF sont modules par plusieurs facteurs, comme la dose, la périodicité, la dimension des fragments, etc. Mais à long terme le BRF peut causer des effets néfastes sur la salinité du sol s’il est utilisé d’une manière non contrôlé

Sustainable Agricultural Development In Sw Tunisia/ Survival Sector And Natural Resources Degradation

Agricultural production relies on numerous interrelated key factors namely irrigation technique, drainage, soil quality … and irrigation water quality that has gained less concern in the agricultural management process. However, the evaluation of the used quality for irrigation especially for long-term use is of crucial importance. Unfortunately, no comprehensive classification based on the assessment of the complex causality links of chemical water composition of the different environmental components that is suitable for the accurate evaluation of the used quality at a local particular scale was found. Thus, to gain an overall impression of the different methods and approaches a review of the previously published diagrams in the light of the effectiveness and representativeness of the obtained results about the various factors related to farming practices and land characteristics is required. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to represent new diagrams used in future studies as classification approaches. New classification techniques are introduced and described based on the previously used approaches coupled with the consideration of variables soil physic-chemical properties and climate conditions. The resulting schema is used to classify a variety of different approaches operating at multiple levels of characteristics and interaction levels (structure, texture, permeability ...)

Literature review on Water Productivity of date palm trees in Tunisian agro systems

The sustainability of agricultural productivity is closely related to the optimal exploitation of natural resources, namely the efficient water resources management.  The evaluation of the effectiveness of the adopted strategies and the applied practices and systems relies on a number of criteria and parameters of which water productivity indices represent the most relevant criteria. In this context, the present study aims to assess the water productivity for date palm cultivation in Tunisia based on an accurate literature review of the previously published scientific papers and reports related to the different studies carried out in these agro-oases regions of the country for the evaluation of the different indices of water productivity. This review represents the main baseline document highlighting in an exhaustive way the challenging features related to water productivity for date palm agro-systems. The outcome of this review indicates that (i) the cultivated date surface is  expanding, covering more than 58.000 ha with a total production of 355.000 tons in 2021(ii) the distribution of irrigation water is variable and irregular. iii) The reported water supply  for date palm range from 20,000 to 30,000 m3/ha while a number of scientific-based calculations estimate the crop water requirements for regular date palm production is  between 10,000 and 18,000 m3/ha (iv) the efficiency of water conservation techniques is related to numerous in farm factors related to the old traditional surface irrigation systems, to the soil salinization, alkalization and  permeability  loss and to the overexploitation issues of water resources that reaching is growing and may impact the productivity of date palms and sustainability of the production system (v) the estimation of the biophysical water productivity based on the reported data reaching barely  0.66kg/m3. This overview highlights the need for an accurate evaluation of the ecological efficiency of the used management measures to a clear appreciation of the  new strategies and policies to face the current constraints with regard to all different driving forces influencing water productivity both at the macro and micro scale

Implementation of the One Health approach to fight arbovirus infections in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region: Assessing integrated surveillance in Serbia, Tunisia and Georgia

Background In the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region, arbovirus infections are emerging infectious diseases. Their surveillance can benefit from one health inter-sectoral collaboration; however, no standardized methodology exists to study One Health surveillance. Methods We designed a situation analysis study to document how integration of laboratory/clinical human, animal and entomological surveillance of arboviruses was being implemented in the Region. We applied a framework designed to assess three levels of integration: policy/institutional, data collection/data analysis and dissemination. We tested the use of Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) to graphically present evidence of inter-sectoral integration. Results Serbia, Tunisia and Georgia participated in the study. West Nile Virus surveillance was analysed in Serbia and Tunisia, Crimea-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever surveillance in Georgia. Our framework enabled a standardized analysis of One Health surveillance integration, and BPMN was easily understandable and conducive to detailed discussions among different actors/institutions. In all countries, we observed integration across sectors and levels except in data collection and data analysis. Data collection was interoperable only in Georgia without integrated analysis. In all countries, surveillance was mainly oriented towards outbreak response, triggered by an index human case. Discussion The three surveillance systems we observed prove that integrated surveillance can be operationalized with a diverse spectrum of options. However, in all countries, the integrated use of data for early warning and inter-sectoral priority setting is pioneeristic. We also noted that early warning before human case occurrence is recurrently not operationally prioritized

Effets de l’apport en Bois Raméal Fragmenté (BRF) sur les caractéristiques physico-chimiques du sol oasien du Sud Tunisien

L’amendement du sol avec des branches, notamment avec des bois rameaux fragmentes (BRF), suscite un intérêt croissant chez les agriculteurs et les services de vulgarisation, Cet article présente les résultats concernant l’effet d’apports enfouis de BRF sur le sol oasien de la zone de Tozeur dans deux sites différentes oasis El Manachie et oasis de CRAAO. L’apport de BRF a généralement un effet positif sur les propriétés physico-hydriques du sol (humidité, porosité structure), enrichit le sol en matière organique, stimule l’activité biologique, et accroit la disponibilité des nutriments à moyen terme. Les effets des BRF sont modules par plusieurs facteurs, comme la dose, la périodicité, la dimension des fragments, etc. Mais à long terme le BRF peut causer des effets néfastes sur la salinité du sol s’il est utilisé d’une manière non contrôlé

Sustainable Agricultural Development In Sw Tunisia/ Survival Sector And Natural Resources Degradation

Agricultural production relies on numerous interrelated key factors namely irrigation technique, drainage, soil quality … and irrigation water quality that has gained less concern in the agricultural management process. However, the evaluation of the used quality for irrigation especially for long-term use is of crucial importance. Unfortunately, no comprehensive classification based on the assessment of the complex causality links of chemical water composition of the different environmental components that is suitable for the accurate evaluation of the used quality at a local particular scale was found. Thus, to gain an overall impression of the different methods and approaches a review of the previously published diagrams in the light of the effectiveness and representativeness of the obtained results about the various factors related to farming practices and land characteristics is required. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to represent new diagrams used in future studies as classification approaches. New classification techniques are introduced and described based on the previously used approaches coupled with the consideration of variables soil physic-chemical properties and climate conditions. The resulting schema is used to classify a variety of different approaches operating at multiple levels of characteristics and interaction levels (structure, texture, permeability ...)

Global Landscape of Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen in the Soils of Oasis Ecosystems in Southern Tunisia

The oasis soils of Tunisia face several climatic and soil constraints. Trying to have cultures that are profitable and beneficial in terms of soil C and N sequestration in such environments is already a challenge. To conduct this, we tested under identical conditions four types of occupation in sub-plots adjacent to the crops; barley alone, alfalfa alone, intercropping barley/alfalfa, and a control fallow in a saline gypseous desert soil poor in organic matter. Field experimentation was carried out in the oasis of Degache, which is very representative of other Tunisian oases. The stocks of C and N of the plot were calculated from the start in September 2019 before the installation of the different crops. After 21 months, the control plot shows a decrease of −41% in its stock of C and −25% in its stock N. However, the best result is that of the barley/alfalfa intercropping with an increase of +126.46% in the C stock and +178.67% in the N stock. After almost two years of experience, the beneficial effect of the intercropping system in the oasis is clear. These results are very motivating and seem to be a solution to the rapid decline in soil organic stocks

Literature review on Water Productivity of date palm trees in Tunisian agro systems

The sustainability of agricultural productivity is closely related to the optimal exploitation of natural resources, namely the efficient water resources management.  The evaluation of the effectiveness of the adopted strategies and the applied practices and systems relies on a number of criteria and parameters of which water productivity indices represent the most relevant criteria. In this context, the present study aims to assess the water productivity for date palm cultivation in Tunisia based on an accurate literature review of the previously published scientific papers and reports related to the different studies carried out in these agro-oases regions of the country for the evaluation of the different indices of water productivity. This review represents the main baseline document highlighting in an exhaustive way the challenging features related to water productivity for date palm agro-systems. The outcome of this review indicates that (i) the cultivated date surface is  expanding, covering more than 58.000 ha with a total production of 355.000 tons in 2021(ii) the distribution of irrigation water is variable and irregular. iii) The reported water supply  for date palm range from 20,000 to 30,000 m3/ha while a number of scientific-based calculations estimate the crop water requirements for regular date palm production is  between 10,000 and 18,000 m3/ha (iv) the efficiency of water conservation techniques is related to numerous in farm factors related to the old traditional surface irrigation systems, to the soil salinization, alkalization and  permeability  loss and to the overexploitation issues of water resources that reaching is growing and may impact the productivity of date palms and sustainability of the production system (v) the estimation of the biophysical water productivity based on the reported data reaching barely  0.66kg/m3. This overview highlights the need for an accurate evaluation of the ecological efficiency of the used management measures to a clear appreciation of the  new strategies and policies to face the current constraints with regard to all different driving forces influencing water productivity both at the macro and micro scale

Baseline Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Specific Antibodies in Hot Spot Areas of Great Tunis, up to 3 Months Post Disease Onset in Tunisia

The extent of the SARS-CoV-2 circulation and the COVID-19 epidemic in Tunisia three months after virus circulation was unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection among household contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases living in Hot spot areas of Great Tunis, Tunisia by estimating the seroprevalence of antibodies anti SARS-CoV-2 and to identify factors associated to seroprevalence at the first stage of the pandemic in order to guide decision making and to constitute a baseline for further longitudinal analysis of protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2. The National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases (ONMNE), Ministry of Health Tunisia (MoH), with the support of the Office of the World Health Organization Representative in Tunisia and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO)), conducted a household cross-sectional survey on April 2020 in Great Tunis (Tunis, Ariana, Manouba and Ben Arous). The study was based on the WHO seroepidemiological investigation protocol for SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies (IgG and IgM) were qualitatively detected using a lateral immunoassay that detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and administered by the interviewers. The included subjects were confirmed COVID-19 cases and their households contacts resided in hot spot areas (cumulative incidence rate ≥ 10 cases/100,000 inhabitants) of Great Tunis. Results: In total, 1165 subjects were enrolled: 116 confirmed COVID-19 cases (43 active cases and 73 convalescents cases) and 1049 household contacts resided in 291 households. The median age of participants was 39.0 with 31 years’ interquartile range (Min = 8 months; Max = 96 years). The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.98. Twenty-nine per cent of participants resided in Tunis. The global crude seroprevalence among household contacts was 2.5% (26/1049); 95% CI 1.6–3.6%, 4.8%; 95% CI 2.3–8.7% in Ariana governorate and 0.3%; 95% CI 0.01%–1.8% in Manouba governorate. In multivariate analysis, the associated factors independently related to seroprevalence were age ≥25 years (aOR = 5.1; 95% CI 1.2–22.0), history of travel outside Tunisia since January 2020 (aOR = 4.6; 95% CI 1.7–12.9), symptomatic illness in the previous four months (aOR = 3.5; 95% CI 1.4–9.0) and governorate of residence (p = 0.02). The low seroprevalence estimated among household contacts in Great Tunis reflect the effect of public health measures early taken (national lockdown, borders closed, remote work), the respect of non-pharmaceutical interventions and the efficacy of COVID-19 contact-tracing and case management at the first stage of the pandemic in Tunisia