Effect of Tillage, Previous Crop, and N Fertilization on Agronomic and Economic Performances of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) under Rainfed Semi-Arid Environment

Abstract

The implementation of conservation agriculture (CA) remains crucial for facing interannual variability in climatic conditions that impact durum wheat production and food security. The current work was conducted to assess the effects of the tillage practice, previous crop, and nitrogen (N) fertilization rate on the agronomic and economic performances of rainfed durum wheat in a semi-arid environment in Tunisia. Tillage practices included no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). Preceding crops were either a common vetch or a bread wheat. The N rates applied were: 0, 75, 100, 120, and 140 kg N ha−1. Our results show that, based on a 2-year experiment, tillage practices are not affecting grain yield, grain N, and gross margins. However, the N-use efficiency of durum wheat was significantly higher when wheat was grown using NT. Grain yield and N content in grain were 340 kg ha−1 and 0.34%; much higher after vetch than after bread wheat. For both tillage practices, the merit of 75 kg N ha−1 is paramount to maximize yield through a more efficient use of available N. Our results highlight the importance of no-tillage-based CA combined with rotation, including vetch, on enhanced yields, N-use efficiency, and gross margins. These findings provide the evidence of the positive impact of CA for rainfed durum wheat under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions.

Effect of Glutamine and Proline Spraying on Yield and Quality of Soft Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes

“…The mixed amino acid spraying treatment (150 mg L -1 glutamine with 150 mg L -1 proline) yielded the highest mean of 7.97 Mg ha -1 , while the no-additive treatment yielded the lowest average of 6.64 Mg ha -1 . This result agrees with [13,14]. Table ( 4)'s results demonstrated substantial worker overlap in this trait from the first season onwards, with plants from the combination of cultivar (Wafiyah) producing the highest yield of 8.87 Mg ha -1 , significantly higher than the other combinations, and plants from the combination of genotype (Russian V10) producing the lowest average of 5.91 Mg ha -1 .…”

Integrating NDVI, SPAD, and Canopy Temperature for Strategic Nitrogen and Seeding Rate Management to Enhance Yield, Quality, and Sustainability in Wheat Cultivation

“…Trentin et al [ 21 ] demonstrate the significant impact of nitrogen fertilizer dosing on durum wheat biomass production, underscoring the importance of nitrogen availability in enhancing biomass and its potential benefits for livestock nutrition (Trentin et al [ 21 ]). Additionally, the study by Souissi et al [ 22 ] evaluates the effects of nitrogen fertilization on the agronomic and economic performances of durum wheat in rainfed semi-arid environments similar to those of our study. Their findings indicate that specific nitrogen dosages can significantly enhance N-use efficiency and grain yield, emphasizing the importance of nuanced nutrient management strategies in optimizing wheat biomass for enhanced livestock nutrition (Souissi et al [ 22 ]).…”

Assessing complementary synergies for integrated crop–livestock systems under conservation agriculture in Tunisian dryland farming systems

“…Similarly, the synergies between cereals (e.g., wheat) and legume crops (which are largely dual-purpose) in the cereallivestock system indicate the synergetic way the diversified farmers have integrated these crop combinations in CA farming systems. This result reveals the benefit of this synergy toward improving soil health, including increasing soil organic matter, due to the adoption of conservation practices such as CA (Laroca et al, 2018;Souissi et al, 2020). Evidence suggests that crop diversification strategies applied by diversified smallholders under CA, such as combining legumes with wheat production in an efficient agronomic and management way, will provide a beneficial effect in improving soil fertility and, thus, enhancing productivity among all produced crops.…”