Deciduous fruit crops of Oman

Oman is located in the South Eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The climate is generally characterized by low rainfall (< 100 mm annually) and high temperature for most of the year. However, mountains in the northern part of the country (Hajar Mountains) reach an altitude of approximately 3,000 m a.s.l., where temperatures drops significantly to allow for the growth and cultivation of various temperate-zone fruit crops and other plants. Pomegranate is the most significant crop in this region, however, walnut, peach, apricot, fig, almond, apple and pear, also contribute significant income to the local inhabitants. Other crops of economic importance include roses and cold-climate vegetables. This paper presents an overview of the temperate fruit crops in Oman.