Cropping systems, tillage and fertilization strategies for durum wheat performance and soil properties

Many sustainable agronomical practices can be adopted to contain environmental risks of crop production and, at the same time, sustain yield and quality. In this framework, the aim of this research was to study the effects of continuous cropping (CC) and crop rotation, tillage and fertilization strategies on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) production. The responses of soil properties were further investigated. The research was carried out from 1998 to 2006 in two two-year rotations repeated two times and in a continuous cropping. The wheat yield and total nitrogen (N) uptake mean value were significantly higher in rotation (by 9.7 and 21.5%, respectively) than in CC. Moreover, the broad bean-wheat rotation significantly increased wheat performance, in particular yield (+35.2 and 47.9% in conventional and in minimum tillage, respectively) compared to sugar beet-wheat rotation. The minimum tillage increased total organic carbon compared to the conventional one and this enhancement was observed both in CC and rotation (+11.6 and 10.6%, respectively). The reduced tillage also increased total N in both cropping systems and mineral N (+25.4%) in rotation. On the whole, the findings of this research provide an opportunity to identify best cultivation strategies to improve wheat performance in rainfed farming systems. Keywords: Minimum tillage; Rotation systems; Fertilizer application; Wheat yield; Soil quality.