Variable rainfall, water stress, and spring frost are the main challenges for cereal growers in the Mediterranean region. The potential of wheat and barley to adapt to contrasting weather conditions was investigated through the adoption of no-till, supplemental irrigation and drought tolerant cultivars over a period of three years. Seasonal precipitation was 732, 336 and 685 mm in the first, second and third seasons, respectively. The second and third seasons were characterized by the occurrence of spring frost. No tillage did not affect productivity in either crop, while supplemental irrigation increased yield only in barley. For wheat, the grain yield was 60 and 43% respectively lower in the second and third seasons than in the first season. For barley, grain yield was 43% higher in the first season than the other two. The negative effect of frost on wheat yield was indirectly assessed by crop growth simulation. Principal component analysis shows that freezing temperatures associated with spring frost and rainfall both dictated crop growth and productivity.
1.Lebanese Agr Res Inst, POB 90-1965, Fanar, Lebanon 2.Natl Res Council Italy, Inst Agr & Forestry Syst Mediterranean CNR ISAFOM, Via Patacca 85, I-80056 Ercolano, NA, Italy 3.Univ Naples Federico II, Dept Agr Sci, I-80050 Portici, Italy 4.Lebanese Agr Res Inst, POB 287, Tal Amara, Lebanon 5.CIHEAM Mediterranean Agron Inst Bari, Via Ceglie 9, I-70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
Recommended Citation:
Saab, Marie Therese Abi,Sellami, Mohamed Houssemeddine,Giorio, Pasquale,et al. Assessing the Potential of Cereal Production Systems to Adapt to Contrasting Weather Conditions in the Mediterranean Region[J]. AGRONOMY-BASEL,2019-01-01,9(7)