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

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.

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Ammonia volatilization from Nitrogen topdressing fertilization in second-crop corn cultivated under two management systems

Revista Agrogeoambiental ◽

10.18406/2316-1817v11n420191365 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

Author(s):

César Ferreira Santos ◽

Sheila Isabel do Carmo Pinto ◽

Konrad Passos e Silva ◽

Paulino Da Cunha Leite ◽

Vagner Aparecido Vitor

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Mineral Fertilizer ◽

N Fertilization ◽

No Tillage ◽

Cultivation System ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Tillage System ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use ◽

Controlled Release Fertilizers

Controlled-release fertilizers are possible strategies to reduce losses through fertilization and increase nitrogen (N) use efficiency. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of N sources applied to second-crop corn cultivation. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme. Two cultivation systems (conventional and no-tillage) and four N fertilizers (urea pearls pure, urea+Cu+B, NBPT-treated urea and complex mineral fertilizer) with four replications were studied. Losses of N-NH3 by volatilization were evaluated up to 14 days after corn N fertilization. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were grouped by the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. Under the conditions in which the study was carried out, it was observed that urea pearls pure was the least efficient N fertilizer in restricting N-NH3 through volatilization losses. The most efficient fertilizer was NBPT-treated urea. Losses of N-NH3 by volatilization in the no-tillage system were higher than in the conventional cultivation system.

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Effects of nitrogen fertilization on yield and nitrogen-use efficiency of durum wheat in Tunisia: a meta-analysis

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-1139 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amir Souissi ◽

Haithem Bahri ◽

Hatem Cheikh M’hamed ◽

Mohamed Annabi

Keyword(s):

Durum Wheat ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

No Tillage ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Bioclimatic Zone ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is a crucial food crop and has occupied important areas in Tunisia. However, its production remains low and unstable even though the effort of intensification of this crop has been undertaken for many decades. Likewise, Nitrogen (N) is a major limiting input factor for the crop production. In this vein, the main objective of this meta-analysis is to quantify N-use efficiency of N-fertilizer (NUE) of durum wheat in Tunisia from published studies according to the type of crop management and bioclimatic zone. Nine hundred thirty-six observations (including grain yield and NUE as dependent variables) were extracted from 51 published studies, corresponding to trials conducted in rain-fed or irrigated, and conducted in conventional system or no-tillage. The results demonstrated that yields obtained within the experimental studies were below the cultivar potential yield, even at irrigated conditions. The grain yields obtained in no-tillage trials were lower (-26%) than those in conventional tillage ones. On the other hand, N-use efficiency was small and varied between 36 and 58 kg kg-1 N depending on the bioclimatic zone. Overall, the effect of irrigation on N-use efficiency was significantly positive (+16.4 kg kg-1 N; p <0.05) under conventional systems. Whereas NUE response to no-tillage was significantly negative (-12.1 kg kg-1 N; p <0.001) under rain-fed conditions. This latter is due mainly to the limitation of conservation agriculture (CA) in Tunisia to only no tillage practice and the negligence of the two other principles of CA namely crop rotations/species diversity, and soil cover by crop residues (at least 30% of the soil surface covered by crop residue at crop sowing). Therefore, enhancing N-use efficiency of durum wheat in Tunisia is paramount to increase production and avoid nitric pollution issues. This feature involves a best management of N-fertilization via synchronizing the timing and quantity of the nitrogen supply with the plant needs, and via using decision-making tools such as chlorophyll meter SPAD and GreenSeeker&#174;, in order to accomplish this synchronization. The nexus between water and nitrogen in the soil is essential since it has conditioned the nitrogen use by durum in Mediterranean conditions.

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Effect of Three Soil Tillage Practices on Soil Organic Matter and Nutrient in Any Semi-Arid Area in Tunisia

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal ◽

10.14738/assrj.712.9308 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 110-120

Author(s):

Mohsen Rezgui ◽

Abdennour Sebei ◽

Houcine Bchini ◽

Hassouna Bahrouni

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Vicia Faba ◽

Clayey Soil ◽

Arid Environment ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Top Soil ◽

Semi Arid

The distribution of soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), total calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and pH was studied in relation to three soil tillage practices: conventional (CT) using mouldboad plough followed by three crossing of off-set disc harrow, tooth harrow and seed drill, Reduced (RT) using a chisel, and no-till (NT) using direct driller and 2 plant species: Vicia faba and Durum wheat, grown in a clayey soil of the semi-arid region of Kef (North western Tunisia) during three years 2009-2011. Results showed that, under NT, Vicia faba increased SOM and N in the first fifteen centimeters by 20% and 84% respectively as compared to the CT, and reduced soil pH by 0.1 unit. Indeed, Vicia faba benefited from the residues of the Durum wheat. In contrast, CT buried the residues of the previous crop increasing the rate of SOM and N in the subsoil (30-45 cm depth). This made clear that NT, had the benefit of improving top-soil fertility and putting soil nutrients at the reach of the Vicia faba plant roots. Moreover, NT increased the concentration of K in the top-soil which helped seedlings and young plants resisting biotic and non biotic stresses imposed by the semi-arid environment.

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Improvement of Maize Productivity and N Use Efficiency in a No-Tillage Irrigated Farming System: Effect of Cropping Sequence and Fertilization Management

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1459

Author(s):

Heba S. A. Salama ◽

Ali I. Nawar ◽

Hassan E. Khalil ◽

Ahmed M. Shaalan

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Faba Bean ◽

Farming System ◽

No Tillage ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Egyptian Clover ◽

Maize Grain Yield ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Maize Grain ◽

N Use

The sequence of the preceding crops in a no-tillage farming system, could interact with the integrated use of mineral and organic nitrogen (N) sources in a way that improves the growth and productivity of the terminal maize crop, meanwhile, enhancing its N use efficiency (NUE). In the current study, six legume-cereal crop sequences, including faba bean, soybean, Egyptian clover, wheat, and maize were evaluated along two experimental rotations that ended up by planting the terminal maize crop. In addition, the effects of applying variable mineral nitrogen (MN) rates with and without the incorporation of farmyard manure (FYM) on the productive performance of maize and its NUE were tested. The field experiments were conducted in a no-tillage irrigated farming system in Northern Egypt, a location that is characterized by its arid, Mediterranean climate. Results revealed that increasing the legume component in the evaluated crop sequences, up to 75%, resulted in improved maize ear leaf area, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index, thus, a higher final grain yield, with the inclusion of Egyptian clover was slightly better than faba bean. Comparing the crop sequences with 50% legume contribution uncovered the positive effects of soybean preceding crop on the terminal maize crop. Substituting 25% of the applied MN with FYM resulted in similar maize yields to the application of the equivalent 100% MN rates. The fertilizer treatments significantly interacted with the crop sequences in determining the maize grain yield, where the highest legume crop contribution in the crop sequence (75%) equalized the effects of the different fertilizer treatments on maize grain yield. The integrated use of FYM with MN in maize fertilization improved the NUE compared to the application of MN alone. Comparing fertilization treatments with similar MN content, with and without FYM, revealed that the difference in NUE was attributed to the additional amount of FYM. In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to grow faba bean two years before maize, while Egyptian clover could be grown directly preceding maize growth, with frequent inclusion of soybean in the sequence, this could be combined with the application of an average of 200 kg MN ha−1 in addition to FYM.

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Energy use efficiency of deficit-irrigated silage maize in different soil tillage practices on a high plain with a semi-arid climate

Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science ◽

10.1080/03650340.2019.1683544 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 66 (12) ◽

pp. 1611-1626 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zinnur Gozubuyuk ◽

Ustun Sahin ◽

Mesut Cemal Adiguzel ◽

Erdal Dasci

Keyword(s):

Energy Use ◽

Arid Climate ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Energy Use Efficiency ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Silage Maize ◽

High Plain ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Semi Arid

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Water use efficiency and crop water balance of rainfed wheat in a semi-arid environment: sensitivity of future changes to projected climate changes and soil type

Theoretical and Applied Climatology ◽

10.1007/s00704-015-1376-3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 123 (3-4) ◽

pp. 565-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Yanmin Yang ◽

De Li Liu ◽

Muhuddin Rajin Anwar ◽

Garry O’Leary ◽

Ian Macadam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Balance ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Soil Type ◽

Climate Changes ◽

Arid Environment ◽

Crop Water ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Rainfed Wheat ◽

Semi Arid

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Deficit irrigation improves maize yield and water use efficiency in a semi-arid environment

Agricultural Water Management ◽

10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106483 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 243 ◽

pp. 106483 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yufeng Zou ◽

Qaisar Saddique ◽

Ajaz Ali ◽

Jiatun Xu ◽

Muhammad Imran Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Arid Environment ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Semi Arid

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Soil invertebrates in durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) cropping system under Mediterranean semi arid conditions: A comparison between conventional and no-tillage management

Soil and Tillage Research ◽

10.1016/j.still.2010.12.004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 112 (2) ◽

pp. 122-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Faïek Errouissi ◽

Sihem Ben Moussa-Machraoui ◽

Moncef Ben-Hammouda ◽

Saïd Nouira

Keyword(s):

Durum Wheat ◽

Triticum Durum ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Invertebrates ◽

No Tillage ◽

Arid Conditions ◽

Semi Arid

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Growth, Critical N Concentration and Crop N Demand in Butterhead and Crisphead Lettuce Grown under Mediterranean Conditions

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9110681 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 681 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Conversa ◽

Elia

Keyword(s):

Field Experiments ◽

Environmental Issues ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Butterhead Lettuce ◽

N Demand ◽

N Use ◽

Critical N Concentration

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizers are applied in lettuce causing both environmental issues and N crop luxury consumption. In order to improve the N use efficiency (NUE) by defining optimal crop growth and N requirements of butterhead and crisphead lettuce, two field experiments were conducted using 0, 50, and 100 kg ha−1 of N fertilizer to study (i) the growth and productivity, (ii) the NUE, (iii) the critical N dilution curve, and (iv) the N demand. Nitrogen supply enhanced dry weight (DW) accumulation in the butterhead (from 295 to 410 g m−2), but not in the crisphead type (251 g m−2). The NUE indices underlined the poor ability of the crisphead type in absorbing soil N and also in the utilization of the absorbed N for producing DW. The critical N dilution curves %Nc = 3.96 DW−0.205 and %Nc = 3.65 DW−0.115 were determined for crisphead and butterhead lettuce, respectively. Based on these type-specific %Nc curves, the estimated N demand was 125 kg ha−1 in the butterhead and 80 kg ha−1 in the crisphead lettuce for producing 4.3 and 2.5 Mg ha−1 of DW, respectively, under Mediterranean climate. Neither N fertilization nor genotype affected crop productivity.

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