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Effect of Supplemental Irrigation and No Tillage on Bread Wheat: A Global Meta-Analysis Approach
* 1 , * 2 , 1 , 3 , 4 , 1
1  Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Beja, University of Jendouba, Beja, Tunisia
2  Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, SK, Canada
3  National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia, Laboratory of Agricultural Sciences and Techniques, Carthage University, Tunis, Tunisia
4  National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia, Department of Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry, Carthage University, Tunis, Tunisia
Academic Editor: Peter Gregory

Abstract:

A global meta-analysis was conducted to assess how various abiotic factors influence grain yield (GY) and grain protein content (GPC) of bread wheat. For this purpose, forty peer-reviewed papers published between 1986 and 2024 were analyzed. The results showed that the application of supplemental irrigation had significant effects on GY and GPC depending on the climate. In a semi-arid climate, supplemental irrigation had a positive effect on the yield, increasing it by 1,154.08 kg ha-1, and a negative effect on GPC, decreasing by 2.09%. However, in a sub-humid climate, a yield decrease of 499.25 kg ha-1 was observed. In addition, GY and GPC responses to supplemental irrigation were significant according to soil textures (p<0.0001). When irrigation was applied, the highest GY increase was observed in coarse- and fine-textured soils (1,507.41 kg ha-1 and 1,826.18 kg ha-1, respectively). However, the medium-textured soils indicated negative responses (MD=-1,811.63 kg ha-1). Indeed, the beneficial effect of supplemental irrigation on GPC was demonstrated in fine-textured soils (MD=0.91%). However, a negative response of irrigation was observed in coarse- (MD=-1.67%) and medium-textured (MD=-1.60%) soils. When no tillage was implemented, GY response was positive in both sub-humid and humid climates, leading to an increase by 1,660.41 kg ha-1 and 1,650.02 kg ha-1, respectively. In contrast, no tillage led to a decreased GY (by 499.25 kg ha-1) in the semi-arid climate. Although no tillage had no significant impact on GPC alone, GY and GPC showed positive responses, leading to an increase by 201.36 kg ha -1 and 0.13% in coarse-textured soils and 1,390.57 kg ha-1 and 1.11% in medium ones, respectively. However, a negative response to no tillage was observed in fine-textured soils (MD=-0.45%).

Keywords: Bread wheat; Supplemental irrigation; No-tillage; Bioclimate; Soil texture; Meta-analysis
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