Conservation agriculture has been proposed as an alternative to conventional agriculture to mitigate the climate change impact and ensure food security. This study examined the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) on mycorrhization and mineral elements uptake of durum wheat for three cultivation years during the tillering stage. The experiment was conducted in a referential farm (Krib, Siliana, North West Tunisia). The results showed that tillage practices (T) had significant effect on mycorrhization rate (MR) for the first cultivation year and the highest mycorrhization rate was noted for NT with 24%. Moreover, tillage (T) had no significant effect on plant mineral composition in tillering stage for the three cultivation years. The cultivation year (Y) had showed significant effects on P and K amounts for both tillage practices when it had no effect on Ca and Na amounts. The interaction T x Y had no significant effect on mineral elements concentration. Mycorrhization rate (MR) showed significant negative correlation with K. For partial correlation based on Tillage practices, MR showed significant negative correlations with P and K.  Considering the partial correlation based on cultivation year, MR had no significant correlations with the studied parameters (P, K, Ca and Na concentrations). This work expands our knowledge on durum wheat natural mycorrhization and mineral elements uptake as influenced by tillage practices helping decision makers in upscaling the adoption of no tillage in Tunisia under rainfed conditions

One of the proposed solutions to face climate change impact and to maintain food production sustainability is conservation agriculture. This study tries to determinate the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) on secondary metabolites such as total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antioxidants capacity (DPPH %) in relation to natural mycorrhization of durum wheat during the tillering stage for three cultivation years. The experiment was conducted in a referential farm (Krib, Siliana, North West Tunisia). The results showed that TPC, TFC and DPPH% were not influenced by tillage system (T). However, cultivation year (Y) had a significant effect on the studied parameters independently of tillage system. In addition, for the first cultivation year, tillage system (T) had significantly influenced the mycorrhization rate (MR%) and NT presented the highest mycorrhization rate (24%). DPPH% showed high significant positive correlations with MR% and TPC. For partial correlation based on Tillage system, high positive correlations were noted between DPPH%, MR% and TPC.  Considering the partial correlation based on cultivation year, only a significant positive correlation between TPC and TFC was observed. In conclusion, durum wheat quality was not affected by tillage system and there are not reasons against no tillage adoption in this region for a sustainable wheat production.

Aims: Conservation agriculture has been recommended as an option to mitigate climate change impact when practicing conventional, to ensure sustainability and food security This study examined the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) on mineral elements uptake, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of barley. Study Design:  Split-plot design was applied for this study. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in ESAK station (Boulifa, kef, North West Tunisia) during 2016/2017 cultivation year. Methodology: Mineral elements uptake, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of barley were studied as affected by conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) for tillering and grain filling stages. Results: The results showed that tillage practices (T) had no significant effect on mineral uptake, total phenolic content and total flavonoids content under rainfed conditions. The stage (S) had showed significant effects on P, Ca and Na amounts for both tillage practices when it had no effect on K amount. The interaction T x S had no significant effect on mineral elements concentrations and TFC. However, this interaction had affected TPC significantly. Phosphorous (P) showed high significant positive correlations with Ca and Na. In addition, P presented high significant negative correlations with TPC and TFC. For partial correlation based on Tillage practices, similar correlations values were noted.  Considering the partial correlation based on plant stages, no significant correlations had been noted. Conclusion: This work enlarges our knowledge on barley mineral elements uptake, TPC and TFC as influenced by tillage practices aiding decision makers in increasing no tillage adoption in Tunisia under rainfed conditions.