Wheat production in Tunisia: Progress, inter-annual variability and relation to rainfall

Latiri, K.; Lhomme, Jean-Paul; Annabi, Mohamed; Setter, Tim L.

doi:10.1016/j.eja.2010.02.004

Cited by 89 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Conversely, in 2008 about 49% of rains occurred in wheat seedling and vegetative growth, which are two of the most important stages of wheat cycle. Similar results were found by Latiri et al (2010), which reported that yield was correlated with autumn rainfall.…”

Section: Effects Of Cropping Systems and Crop Management On Wheat Yieldsupporting

confidence: 93%

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

Montemurro

Maiorana²

2015

Journal of Plant Nutrition

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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.

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Section: Effects Of Cropping Systems and Crop Management On Wheat Yieldsupporting

confidence: 93%

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

Montemurro

Maiorana²

2015

Journal of Plant Nutrition

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“…However, sowing too early resulted in suboptimum stand establishment due to the lack of moisture for homogeneous germination and emergence. In addition, Latiri et al (2010) reported better wheat yield in Tunisia with early sowing for years with no stress at germination. GomezMacpherson and Richards (1995) investigated yield effects of sowing date at three Australian sites.…”

Section: Early Sowingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of crop water under drought: a review

Bodner

Nakhforoosh

Kaul

2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

455

234

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Drought is a predominant cause of low yields worldwide. There is an urgent need for more water efficient cropping systems facing large water consumption of irrigated agriculture and high unproductive losses via runoff and evaporation. Identification of yield-limiting constraints in the plant-soil-atmosphere continuum are the key to improved management of plant water stress. Crop ecology provides a systematic approach for this purpose integrating soil hydrology and plant physiology into the context of crop production. We review main climate, soil and plant properties and processes that determine yield in different water-limited environments. From this analysis, management measures for cropping systems under specific drought conditions are derived. Major findings from literature analysis are as follows. (1) Unproductive water losses such as evaporation and runoff increase from continental in-season rainfall climates to storage-dependent winter rainfall climates. Highest losses occur under tropical residual moisture regimes with short intense rainy season. (2) Sites with a climatic dry season require adaptation via phenology and water saving to ensure stable yields. Intermittent droughts can be buffered via the root system, which is still largely underutilised for better stress resistance. (3) At short-term better management options such as mulching and date of seeding allow to adjust cropping systems to site constraints. Adapted cultivars can improve the synchronisation between crop water demand and soil supply. At long term, soil hydraulic and plant physiological constraints can be overcome by changing tillage systems and breeding new varieties with higher stress resistance. (4) Interactions between plant and soil, particularly in the rhizosphere, are a way towards better crop water supply. Targeted management of such plant-soil interactions is still at infancy.We conclude that understanding site-specific stress hydrology is imperative to select the most efficient measures to mitigate stress. Major progress in future can be expected from crop ecology focussing on the management of complex plant (root)-soil interactions.

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“…Agricultural systems are mainly based on rainfed mixed farming and livestock. As in other rainfed agricultural systems in North Africa (Latiri et al, 2010), the Lebna agriculture mainly includes cereal production, although its climate increases the crop diversity. Annual crop areas spread over 49% of the watershed area.…”

Section: Impact Of Farmland Fragmentation On Rainfed Crop Allocation Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of farmland fragmentation on rainfed crop allocation in Mediterranean landscapes: A case study of the Lebna watershed in Cap Bon, Tunisia

et al. 2018

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Wheat production in Tunisia: Progress, inter-annual variability and relation to rainfall

Cited by 89 publications

References 38 publications

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

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

Management of crop water under drought: a review

Impact of farmland fragmentation on rainfed crop allocation in Mediterranean landscapes: A case study of the Lebna watershed in Cap Bon, Tunisia

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