Abstract
A research development initiative at the farm level was conducted within the framework of a service contract between ESAK and the GCP/TUN/028/ITA- FAO Project in Siliana Governorate at three sites (Hamzet, Kharrouba and Mnara- Rjeybia). The project sought to encourage cereal producers to adopt a conservation-based agriculture using direct sowing (DS) in agricultural lands known to have a high risk of water erosion. An agro-climatic characterization and one growing season (GS) study (2003-2004) of edaphic and production parameters was carried out. An agro-climatic characterization of ten GSs (1993/1994- 2002/2003) showed that grass cereals grew in water deficient conditions during their entire growth cycle under rainfed conditions, which requires sowing in late December when the evapotranspiration (ET) curve approaches the rainfall curve. Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) appeared to be the most efficient cereal species in terms of water use (4.8 kg mm �1 ). Rainfall in autumn, winter and spring provide an opportunity for agronomy (two crops per year under rainfed conditions), whenever an agronomic scenario is appropriately set up. The rate of water infiltration was greater by 58%, 12% and 56% with DS compared to conventional sowing (CS), in Hamzet, Kharrouba and Mnara-Rjeybia, respectively. The apparent soil density and soil porosity, two indicators of soil quality, were in favour of DS. However, water dynamics associated with the soil was variable among the experimental sites and growing periods with a general trend revealing DS to perform better in terms of water retention, especially during the grain filling period (June). Phyto-toxicity expressed by a prior allelopathic cereal-species/variety could be a major constraint for DS. Therefore, the choice of an appropriate rotation, based on an agronomic sequence of a least depressive cereal-species/variety to a subsequent tolerant cereal- species/variety, remains an efficient agro-physiological approach (technique of bioassays) to reduce the effect of phyto-toxic residues for DS. Adoption of DS remains essentially related to how much more grain is yielded (quintals ha �1 ) compared with CS. For the 2003-2004 GS, durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) grain yields 1
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Grass cereals grew under water deficit throughout their cycle in rainfed conditions.
Verbatim
e0“grass cereals grew in water deficient conditions during their entire growth cycle under rainfed conditions”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors indicate late December sowing is required under these conditions.
Verbatim
e0“grass cereals grew in water deficient conditions during their entire growth cycle under rainfed conditions, which requires sowing in late December when the evapotranspiration (ET) curve approaches the rainfall curve”
Claim · model-written summary
Barley had the highest reported water-use efficiency among the cereals, 4.8 kg mm �1.
- Taxon
- Barley
.jpg?width=60)
Hordeum vulgaree0 - Outcome
- water usee0
- Direction
- most efficiente0
- Value
- 4.8 kg mm �1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) appeared to be the most efficient cereal species in terms of water use (4.8 kg mm �1 ).”
Claim · model-written summary
Direct sowing increased water infiltration by 58% at Hamzet.
Verbatim
e0“The rate of water infiltration was greater by 58%, 12% and 56% with DS compared to conventional sowing (CS), in Hamzet, Kharrouba and Mnara-Rjeybia, respectively.”
e1“cereal producers”
Claim · model-written summary
Direct sowing increased water infiltration by 12% at Kharrouba.
Verbatim
e0“The rate of water infiltration was greater by 58%, 12% and 56% with DS compared to conventional sowing (CS), in Hamzet, Kharrouba and Mnara-Rjeybia, respectively.”
e1“cereal producers”
Claim · model-written summary
Direct sowing increased water infiltration by 56% at Mnara-Rjeybia.
Verbatim
e0“The rate of water infiltration was greater by 58%, 12% and 56% with DS compared to conventional sowing (CS), in Hamzet, Kharrouba and Mnara-Rjeybia, respectively.”
e1“cereal producers”
Claim · model-written summary
Apparent soil density and porosity favored direct sowing.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“The apparent soil density and soil porosity, two indicators of soil quality, were in favour of DS.”
e1“cereal producers”
Claim · model-written summary
Direct sowing generally improved soil water retention, especially during grain filling.
- Taxon
- cereale1
- Treatment
- DSe0
- Outcome
- water retentione0
- Direction
- bettere0
- Qualifier
- especially during the grain filling period (June)e0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“DS to perform better in terms of water retention, especially during the grain filling period (June)”
e1“cereal producers”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend rotation of less depressive cereal types followed by tolerant ones to reduce phytotoxic residues under direct sowing.
Verbatim
e0“the choice of an appropriate rotation, based on an agronomic sequence of a least depressive cereal-species/variety to a subsequent tolerant cereal- species/variety, remains an efficient agro-physiological approach (technique of bioassays) to reduce the effect of phyto-toxic residues for DS”