Agronomic Practices at Low Environmental Impact for Durum Wheat in Mediterranean Conditions

Abstract

2 The application of conservative agricultural practices such as crop rotation, shallow tillage, and organic fertilizer could usefully sustain crop yield and increase soil fertility, thus playing an important role in the sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted to determine the effects of conservative agronomic practices on yield and quality of wheat. The effects of these practices on soil fertility were further investigated in this four-year study (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008). Two cropping systems, durum wheat in continuous cropping, and in two-year rotation with leguminous crops, were investigated at Foggia (Southern Italy) in rain-fed conditions. Within each cropping system, two levels of crop management were compared: i) conventional, characterized by a higher soil tillage management and mineral fertilizers application; ii) conservative, with a lower soil tillage management and organic-mineral fertilizers. The seasonal weather greatly affected the wheat yield and quality, inducing lower production in years that were characterized by unfavorable climatic conditions. This trend was found when the conventional treatment was applied, both in continuous cropping and rotations. The effects of cropping systems and crop management pointed out the positive role played by the leguminous crops (common vetch and chickpea) in crop rotation. This introduction improved wheat yield in rotation (6.47% compared to the continuous cropping), improved grain protein content (5.88%), and reduced the productive gap between conventional and conservative treatments (9.24 and 14.14% of the wheat in rotation and continuous cropping, respectively). Conversely, the effects of cropping systems and crop management on soil fertility were not very high, since the differences found at the end of the study in total nitrogen values were poor. However, total organic carbon (16.04 and 17.58% for cropping system and crop management, respectively) and available phosphorus values (11.30 and 7.43%) depend on root organic matter contribution, plant biomass residues, and fertilizations. The suitable crop rotation and the sustainable crop management appear important agronomical practices to improve yield and quality of wheat, and may reduce the environmental risks resulting from conventional intensive cropping systems.

Effect of Cereal Monoculture and Tillage Systems on Grain Yield and Weed Infestation of Winter Durum Wheat

“…However, response of cereals to cultivation in the monoculture varies and is limited by habitat conditions, agrotechnical measures used, and many other factors. The yield of cereals is also affected by tillage systems (Gruber et al 2012;Zikeli et al 2013;Montemurro and Maiorana 2015). Many research works have demonstrated that better production results are achieved in the conventional tillage system on moderately humid soils as well as in the no-tillage system on dry soils or in the years with low sums of precipitation (López-Bellido et al 1996;De Vita et al 2007).…”

Evaluation of the Productive Potential of a World Collection of Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) for the Initiation of Breeding Programs for Adaptation to Conservation Agriculture

“…. ) [38,39], research on conservation agriculture, especially on effective practices to adopt and suitable genotypes, would be a good asset to promote this agricultural management technology to farmers in order to encourage them to opt for conservation agriculture. The use, in conservation agriculture, of plant material previously selected in conventional agriculture programs shows limits in terms of genotype performance and reveals contrasting results on several traits [40], hence the need to carry out research and conduct programs that can reassure the farmer of the performance of the varieties that will be proposed for direct seeding.…”