Soil tillage and fertilization affect durum wheat and weeds interactions in Mediterranean environment

Abstract

This study demonstrated that different soil tillage methods and fertilization sources affect durum wheat production and weeds biomass. Although the durum wheat performed better under conventional tilled soil by means of plowing, the need of the adoption of sustainable agronomical practices such as reduced tillage practices should be stimulated for environmental issues. Therefore, further studies should be addressed to evaluate the weed characteristics and their competition effects to avoid severe yield loss and support environmental-friendly practices. Moreover, detailed studies regarding organic fertilization application should be conduct because the methods and time of application can be relevant for the crop performance.