Research Challenges in Sustainable Cultivation of Important Medicinal Plants in Oman; Insight into the Plant Environment Interactions Based on Different Climatic Zones

Abstract

The different climatic condition plays a very important role in interaction of plants to a specific area and more importantly it effects the yield and productivity of a plant. Oman has its territories covered with different plant species specifically in areas such a Jabal Akhdar, a hilly region and Dhofar governorate. Environment conditions in these regions are quite different as the Dhofar region has various mountain ridges in combination with coastal areas of Arabian sea. The nature of the soil in these areas helps in the growth of plant species such as Boswellia sacra, Anogeissus dhofarica, Adansonia digitata and other plant species. Several varieties of B. sacra are present in this specific region depending upon the sesquiterpene exudate from the bark of this plant. Jabal Shams is also an arid mountenous area in Oman and according to zone wise vegetation plants such as Acacia tortitilis, Euphorbia larica, Moringa peregrine, Ziziphus spina-Christie, Fagonia indica and Rhyza stricata can be found in this region. Jabal Akhdar which is a part of Al Hajar mountain chains present in the Dakhliyah region also is rich in plant communities with presence of succulent, drought desiduous plant species such as Convolvulus acanthocladus, Grewia tenax, Maerua, crassifolia and Moringa species. The woodlands species such and Sideroxylon mascatense, Olive species, Dodonanea viscosa and Myrtus communis can also be found in this area with the presence of medicinal plants such as Teucrium mascatense and Ephedra pachyclada. The chapter discusses the different environment parameters and their effect on the vegetation of these plants with significance of Aflaj system of irrigation which demonstrate long lasting sustainable use of water resources for the cultivation in extremely arid desert lands.