Durum wheat and barley yields in antiquity estimated from 13C discrimination of archaeological grains: a case study from the Western Mediterranean Basin

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Romagosa ◽  
G. A. Slafer ◽  
J. L. Araus
Keyword(s):  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
13C Discrimination ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Ne Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Se Iberian Peninsula

This study develops a novel approach by which to estimate cereal yields in ancient times based on the 13C discrimination (Δ) of ancient grains. First, a yield model based on Δ in grains from modern durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crops was developed using a wide range of genotypes and Mediterranean environments. For both crops, a strong positive linear regression between yield on a logarithmic basis and the Δ of grains (r2 = 0.72, 506 d.f. for durum wheat and r2 = 0.50, 316 d.f. for barley) was observed; the slope of the relationship was significantly higher for durum wheat than for barley. Initial estimates of yield were subsequently corrected from bibliographical data to take into consideration the two major differences between ancient and modern crops unaccounted for by the Δ of ancient samples: atmospheric CO2 levels and the harvest index ratio. As a case study, this method was used to obtain estimates of ancient yields of durum wheat and barley in two areas of the Western Mediterranean Basin (NE and SE Iberian Peninsula) using Δ data of grain samples from a number of archaeological sites. These sites dated from the beginning of agriculture in these areas (Neolithic Age, ca 7500 years before present (BP)) to the Middle Ages (ca 800 years BP). Our results show the absence of a marked trend in the yields of both durum wheat and barley, which seem to have remained relatively high from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. The average values for the whole period (mean ± SD) were 1.61 ± 0.49 and 1.08 ± 0.25 Mg ha–1 for durum wheat and barley, respectively in the NE Iberian Peninsula, and 1.18 ± 0.48 and 0.97 ± 0.30 Mg ha–1, respectively, in SE Iberian Peninsula. These yield estimates are within the range indicated by the limited data (mostly from contemporary written sources) available for the Mediterranean Basin, and suggest relatively good growing conditions throughout the period studied, particularly in the NE Iberian Peninsula.

Changes in Carbon Isotope Discrimination in Grain Cereals From the North-Western Mediterranean Basin During the Past Seven Millenia

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Araus ◽  
R Buxo
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Carbon Isotope Discrimination ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Isotope Discrimination ◽  
The North ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
North Western ◽  
The Middle Ages

Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) was determined for kernels of six-row barley and durum wheat cultivated in the north-western Mediterranean basin during the last seven millennia. Samples from the Neolithic, Bronze, Iron and Middle Ages came from different archaeological sites in Catalonia. Samples for the period 1910-20 and 1990 were also analysed. There was a slight decrease (P=0.10, carbonisation-corrected values) in Δ from the Neolithic to the Iron Age period and a much steeper decrease from the Middle Ages to 1910-20 (P<0.01). Since water-use efficiency and isotope discrimination are negatively correlated, from the pattern of change in Δ it is suggested that there has been a progressive increase in the water-use efficiency (WUE) of these cereals. Since the Middle Ages this has coincided with increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Thus, for a given relative humidity and air temperature, the estimated WUE (measured as the ratio of CO2 assimilation to transpiration) from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages samples ranged between 65-70% of present time WUE values, whereas WUE for 1910-20 was about 86% of present values.

The isotopic footprint of irrigation in the western Mediterranean basin during the Bronze Age: the settlement of Terlinques, southeast Iberian Peninsula

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 459-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Mora-González ◽  
Antonio Delgado-Huertas ◽  
Arsenio Granados-Torres ◽  
Francisco Contreras Cortés ◽  
Francisco Javier Jover Maestre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Bronze Age ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin ◽  
The Bronze Age

scholarly journals High-resolution spatio-temporal analyses of drought episodes in the western Mediterranean basin (Spanish mainland, Iberian Peninsula)

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. González-Hidalgo ◽  
S. M. Vicente-Serrano ◽  
D. Peña-Angulo ◽  
C. Salinas ◽  
M. Tomas-Burguera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Understanding the climate-driven role in the abrupt eighties shift of Iberian hydrological resources

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amar Halifa Marín ◽  
Raquel Lorente-Plazas ◽  
Juan Andrés García-Valero ◽  
Pedro Jiménez-Guerrero ◽  
Juan Pedro Montávez
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Abrupt Decrease ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Abrupt Shift ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Precipitation Decrease

&lt;p&gt;Since the early 1980s, several studies have noticed an abrupt decrease of inflows in the main reservoirs of the western Mediterranean basin. This decline has been more noticeable in the Iberian Peninsula (IP) during the extended winter season (DJFM) where mean inflows decreased until 40% during 1981-2010 compared to 1951-1980. Higher inflows reductions have been found over the western IP where precipitation is mainly modulated by Atlantic fronts. Several plausible causes have been attributed to this phenomenon; changes in land uses, improved datasets or changes in the atmospheric dynamics, among others.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this work, we assess what is the role of the changes in the large-scale to induce the eighties abrupt precipitation decrease. The analysis consists on the computation of the Wintertime Circulation Types (WCTs) during 1951-2010 using the SLP from ERA20C Reanalysis over a window encompassing the North Atlantic and the Western Europe (-30W, 30E, 65N, 25S). The precipitation associated to these WCTs is analysed using the high-resolution database SPREAD (Serrano-Notivoli et al., 2018).&amp;#160;Results show that retaining a group of WCTs may be enough to represent the synoptic situations during reference period over the target region. The frequency of some anticyclonic WCTs (associated with a high pressure over the Iberian Peninsula) showed a significant positive trend for 1951-2010. In contrast, WCTs associated with Atlantic fronts had a significant negative trend. The WCTs promoting westerly flow lead close to the 50% of the annual precipitation over western and central IP during 1951-2010. Then, an abrupt decrease of the frequency of these WCTs directly affects to the precipitation decline in this region (~200 mm). In contrast, the abrupt increase of the anticyclonic WCTs lead to an increase of the precipitation over the eastern IP (~50 mm). Similar significant abrupt shift in precipitation was observed during WCTS associated with cyclones and anticyclones. These results are in agreement with G&amp;#243;mez-Mart&amp;#237;nez et al. (2018) who found evident links between an increasing NAO index and the decreasing inflows in two basins of the Iberian Peninsula.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Henceforth, there is a need to fulfil the lack&amp;#160;of scientific knowledge regarding this abrupt shift in the hydrological resources of the western Mediterranean basin. Precisely, the results of this study shed some light on the causes for the decrease of inflows and run-off over this area&amp;#160;and whether they are driven by changes in the regional atmospheric circulation since the early 1980s, related to the internal variability or a global warming forcing. Hence, these results will enable us&amp;#160;to identify mitigation and adaptation policies for optimizing the water management.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;References&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;G&amp;#243;mez-Mart&amp;#237;nez, G., et al. Water Resources Management, 32(8), 2717&amp;#8211;2734, doi:10.1007/s11269-018-1954-0, 2018.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Serrano-Notivoli, R., et al. Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 9, 721-738, doi:10.5194/essd-9-721-2017, 2017.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Acknowledgements &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The authors acknowledge the ACEX project (CGL2017-87921-R) of the Ministerio de Econom&amp;#237;a y Competitividad of Spain.&amp;#160;A.H.M. thanks his predoctoral contract FPU18/00824 to the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&amp;#243;n y Universidades of Spain.&amp;#160;R.L.P. thanks to the University of Murcia for her postdoctoral contract, and her contract PTQ2018-010275 with Torres Quevedo Program founded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&amp;#243;n y Universidades of Spain.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Distributions and Conservation Status of Carrot Wild Relatives in Tunisia: A Case Study in the Western Mediterranean Basin

Crop Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 2317-2328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najla Mezghani ◽  
Colin K. Khoury ◽  
Daniel Carver ◽  
Harold A. Achicanoy ◽  
Philipp Simon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin

scholarly journals Gm and Km alleles in two Spanish Pyrenean populations (Andorra and Pallars Sobira): a review of Gm variation in the Western Mediterranean basin

2001 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 537-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. GIRALDO ◽  
E. ESTEBAN ◽  
M. P. ALUJA ◽  
R. M. NOGUES ◽  
CH. BACKES-DURO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Western Mediterranean Basin
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