Seeds of the herb of the Sibt (Stipagrostis draii)

Common name: Sibt Scientific name: Cenchrus ciliaris Also called: Sibat Original habitat of the Sibat plant: • Arabian Peninsula, Maghreb, Turkey, Egypt, Levant (Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon), and Iraq. Description of the Sibat plant: • Sibat or Sibatah is a herbaceous, perennial, highly branched, medium-sized plant, reaching a height of about 10 meters. It belongs to the Poaceae family, the same family as wheat, barley, and rice. The stems of the Sibat plant are rough and stiff (woody). The leaves of the Sibat plant are rolled, with a tough midrib inside, and the leaf length reaches about 9 cm. The inflorescences of the Sibat plant open side by side to form a shape similar to a wheat spike. The inflorescences are clustered to form woody fruits containing oval-shaped seeds that help in propagating the Sibat plant. Description of the Sibat flower: • The inflorescences of the Sibat plant open side by side to form a shape similar to a wheat spike, and are green when mature. Uses and benefits of the Sibat plant: • The Sibat plant is an important economic forage crop. • It has the ability to prevent soil erosion in sandy desert areas, especially during heavy rain. • It has several health and nutritional benefits, especially for livestock and camels. Suitable climate for the Sibat plant: • It can tolerate temperature fluctuations, enduring temperatures as low as 5°C and as high as 45°C. • It tolerates drought. • It tolerates frost. • It also withstands wind. Suitable soil for the Sibat plant: • It grows in various soils. • It thrives in fertile, well-drained, and aerated soils. • The growth of the Sibat plant flourishes in plain areas, along road edges, and in regions with sandy soil. • It is not found in rocky mountainous areas. • The Sibat plant is rarely and sparsely distributed in deep valley areas. • It tolerates saline soils. Method of cultivating the Sibat plant: • It propagates by seeds. Timing for planting the Sibat plant: • It is planted at the beginning of the spring season. Method of planting the Sibat plant: • Sibat seeds are planted directly in the ground at a suitable depth not exceeding 1.5 cm. • The seeds are watered sufficiently until they grow properly. • It takes approximately two to four weeks for the Sibat to germinate. Fertilization method for the Sibat plant: • The soil should be moist, well-drained, and alkaline. • Organic fertilization is recommended for proper growth.