Water use efficiency of crops cultivated in the Mediterranean region: Review and analysis

Improvement of water use efficiency (WUE) of field crops in the Mediterranean region is an imperative imposed by the critical situation of water resources of the region, as well as by the demographical increment. This review reports the experimental data concerning WUE of 16 species cultivated in the region. The species include cereals, leguminous, horticultural and industrial crops. This review however underlines that WUE data of fruit trees are lacking, despite they represent one of the main productions of the Mediterranean agriculture.

In this region, the large range of WUE values observed, for the same species, can be ascribed mainly to: (i) fertilizers and water management (water regime, mineral supply and water quality); (ii) plant factors (species, variety and sensitivity of growth stage to the stress); and (iii) environmental factors (climate, atmospheric pollution, soil texture and climate change). The conclusion highlights the actual gap concerning WUE in the Mediterranean region. This gap will constitute a field of research designated to ameliorate WUE of agriculture in this region.     

Analysis of the ozone effect on soybean in the Mediterranean region: II. The consequences on growth, yield and water use efficiency

Soybean plants were subjected, during their growing seasons, to well-watered and water-stressed conditions, and three levels of ozone concentration (zero, low and high) in open top chambers (OTCs). At the end of the soybean growing season accumulated AOT40 values were zero, 3400 and 9000 ppb h for the filtered (control), low and high levels of ozone concentration, respectively.

In well-watered conditions, an increase in ozone concentration led to a reduction in leaf area, dry matter and reproductive organs. Whereas, an increase in ozone had no effect on plants in water-stressed conditions. At a high level of ozone concentration, there was a 47% reduction in yield and a 25% reduction in WUE in comparison with the control treatment. The reduction in yield was due to a lower number of pods per plant and 1000-grain weight. Despite changes in the grain yield, the yield quality was not altered by ozone.

During the 3-year study, AOT40 was significantly correlated with the leaf area and the final above-ground dry matter. The latter was less sensitive to ozone than leaf area. These results were reliable and would be useful in soybean yield-prediction models.

Finally, the conclusion highlights the reliability of the approach adopted, which was to make observations on various time scales (hourly, daily and entire crop cycle).     

Use of soil and vegetation spectroradiometry to investigate crop water use efficiency of a drip irrigated tomato

An agronomic research was conducted in Tuscany (Central Italy) to evaluate the effects of an advanced irrigation system on the water use efficiency (WUE) of a tomato crop and to investigate the ability of soil and vegetation spectroradiometry to detect and map WUE. Irrigation was applied following an innovative approach based on CropSense system. Soil water content was monitored at four soil depths (10, 20, 30 and 50 cm) by a probe. Rainfall during the crop cycle reached 162 mm and irrigation water applied with a drip system amounted to 207 mm, distributed with 16 irrigation events. Tomato yield varied from 7.10 to 14.4 kg m⁻², with a WUE ranging from 19.1 to 38.9 kg m⁻³. The irrigation system allowed a high yield levels and a low depth of water applied, as compared to seasonal ET crop estimated with Hargraves’ formula and with the literature data on irrigated tomato. Measurements were carried out on geo-referenced points to gather information on crop (crop yield, eighteen Vegetation indices, leaf area index) and on soil (spectroradiometric and traditional analysis). Eight VIs, out of nineteen ones analyzed, showed a significant relationship with georeferenced yield data; PVI maps seemed able to return the best response, before harvesting, to improve the knowledge of the area of cultivation and irrigation system. CropSense irrigation system reduced seasonal irrigation volumes. Some vegetation indexes were significantly correlated to tomato yield and well identify, a posteriori, crop area with low WUE; spectroradiometry can be a valuable tool to improve irrigated tomato field management.     

Nitrogen use efficiency and fertiliser fate in a long-term experiment with winter cover crops

The use of winter cover crops enhances environmental benefits and, if properly managed, may supply economic and agronomic advantages. Nitrogen retained in the cover crop biomass left over the soil reduces soil N availability, which might enhance the N fertiliser use efficiency of the subsequent cash crop and the risk of depressive yield and pre-emptive competition. The main goal of this study was to determine the cover crop effect on crop yield, N use efficiency and fertiliser recovery in a 2-year study included in a long-term (10 years) maize/cover crop production system. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.), as cover crops, were compared with a fallow treatment during the maize intercropping period. All treatments were cropped following the same procedure, including 130 kg N ha⁻¹ with ¹⁵N fertiliser. The N rate was reduced from the recommended N rate based on previous results, to enhance the cover crop effect. Crop yield and N uptake, soil N mineral and ¹⁵N fertiliser recovered in plants and the soil were determined at different times. The cover crops behaved differently: the barley covered the ground faster, while the vetch attained a larger coverage and N content before being killed. Maize yield and biomass were not affected by the treatments. Maize N uptake was larger after vetch than after barley, while fallow treatment provided intermediate results. This result can be ascribed to N mineralization of vetch residues, which results in an increased N use efficiency of maize. All treatments showed low soil N availability after the maize harvest; however, barley also reduced the N in the upper layers before maize planting, increasing the risk of pre-emptive competition. In addition to the year-long effect of residue decomposition, there was a cumulative effect on the soil’s capacity to supply N after 7 years of cover cropping, larger for the vetch than for the barley.     

Effects of corn deficit irrigation and soil properties on water use efficiency. A 25-year analysis of a Mediterranean environment using the STICS model

This study analyses the role of variability induced by climate and soil properties (texture and total available soil water in the root zone, TAW) on the “corn deficit irrigation–water use efficiency” relation over a 25-year period, between 1981 and 2005, in three different sites located in the South of Italy. The analysis of water use efficiency was carried out by means of three indexes: crops water use efficiency (WUE_ET and WUE_T) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). These indexes can be obtained by calculating the ratio between the yield and the seasonal values of evapotranspiration (ET), transpiration (T) and irrigation volume (I). After its validation, the STICS model was retained to simulate the variables required to determine these indexes.Climatic variability affected the three indexes in different ways during the 25-year period studied. The dispersion around the mean values of the water use efficiency is 17% on average for the WUE (ET or T) indexes, whereas it could reach 54% for the IWUE index. This last index is only poorly reliable due to the high variability of rainfall during the corn growing season in the Mediterranean region.For the same level of soil water deficit, TAW led to an improvement (the case of the site with a high TAW and loam–clay soil texture), a stabilisation (the case of the site with a high TAW and clay soil texture) or a decrease (the case of the site with a poor TAW and clay soil texture) in WUE_ET and WUE_T values. For the same conditions of soil water deficit and TAW, crops water use efficiency was higher in loam textured soil than in clay soil.The results derived by analyzing three indexes (WUE_ET, WUE_T and IWUE) converge to the same conclusions on the “corn deficit irrigation–water use efficiency” relation observed at the three different sites.The hypotheses which may explain the differences observed in the different sites studied in terms of water use efficiency are discussed, with the presentation of some suggestions devised for corn irrigation practices.     

Analysis of the effect of ozone on soybean in the Mediterranean region: I. The consequences on crop-water status

This study was carried out over three successive years (2003–2004–2005) in the southern Mediterranean region of Europe. Soybean plants were subjected to well-watered and water-stress conditions, and three levels of ozone (zero, low and high) in open top chambers (OTC) during the growing seasons.

The paper has four objectives: (i) to reproduce in OTCs the ozone concentrations actually observed in the field; (ii) to analyze the effect of ozone on well-watered crops by comparing a “control” (OTC ozone filtered treatment) with two ozone levels (at the end of the soybean growing seasons accumulated AOT40 values were 3400 and 9000 ppb h for low and high ozone treatments, respectively); observations were carried out both at leaf scale (stomatal conductance) and at canopy scale (determination of daily evapotranspiration, AET); (iii) to take into consideration the effect of drought, where the leaf and canopy scale observations were also implemented on water-stressed crops; and (iv) to analyze and verify the reliability of the ozone exposure–plant response relationship.

In well-watered conditions, an increase in ozone concentration levels reduced stomatal conductance and AET. Reductions in AET were 14% and 28% at low and high ozone levels, respectively, as compared to the control treatment. Hence, the results of daily AET were consistent with stomatal conductance results.

In water stress conditions, on the contrary, an increase in ozone had no effect on stomatal conductance and AET.

During the 3-year study, significant relationships were found between AOT40 and relative (low or high to control ozone treatment) values of stomatal conductance and AET in well-watered conditions. The reliability observed for these relationships suggest that they will be useful in soybean growth and yield-prediction models.     

全生物降解地膜覆盖对旱地土壤水分状况及春小麦产量和水分利用效率的影响

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ecological effect of full biodegradable film mulching and its effect on the production of spring wheat, and to seek a green, efficient and sustainable coverage in the semi-arid area of the Northwest Loess Plateau. Taking the uncovered land as the control (CK), to systematically studied the effects of full biodegradable film mulching (BM) and the polyethylene film mulching (PM) with bunch planting on soil water status, rain fallow efficiency and its impact on yield and water use efficiency of dryland spring wheat from 2015 to 2018. The results showed that both BM and PM significantly increased the water storage of 0-200 cm soil layer and rain fallow efficiency in each growth period of spring wheat, but there was not significant differences between BM and PM. From 2015 to 2018, the water storage of BM increased by 9.5 mm, 14.2 mm, 25.0 mm, and 39.0 mm respectively compared with CK. In the fourth year of continuous cropping, the water storage of PM, BM and CK 0-200 cm soil layers were 347.5 mm, 345.5 mm and 320.0 mm, respectively. Compared with CK, the rain fallow efficiency of BM and PM increased by 39.63% and 43.98%, respectively, which effectively alleviated the risk of spring drought in the next season. BM was similar to PM in seedling rate, the number of productive ears and the percentage of productive spike, and significantly higher than CK. The number of BM seedlings increased by 15.87% compared with CK in dry year, the number of productive ears increased by 14.70% on average in other years except 2015, and the percentage of productive spike increased by 3.08% on average in four years. The total amount of dry matter accumulation of BM was basically the same as PM, and before anthesis was slightly lower than PM, but higher than PM after anthesis, which was more conducive to grain filling and yield formation, and the amount of dry matter accumulation of both BM and PM are significantly higher than CK in each growth period. The annual average water consumption of PM, BM and CK was 287.46 mm, 289.76 mm, and 276.06 mm, respectively, and compared with PM, BM increased the evaporation water consumption. Compared with CK, the grain yield of BM and PM increased 48.07% and 54.95% respectively, and water use efficiency increased 46.08% and 56.07% in four years, there was not significant differences between BM and PM. There was not significant differences in soil water effect and yield effect between the full biodegradable film and PE film, and the full biodegradable film can be applied to the whole field soil-plastic mulching with bunch planting of spring wheat in dry land and provide technical support for the green and efficient production of wheat in dry land.     

Yield,water use and radiation use efficiencies of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) under reduced water and nitrogen soil availability in a semi-arid Mediterranean area

Kenaf is a warm-season species that recently has been proved to be a good source of biomass for cellulose pulp for the paper industry in Mediterranean countries, where the use of hemp is problematic for legal reasons. A two-year research program aiming at studying the effects of different water regimes and nitrogen fertilization levels, upon plant growth, leaf area index, biomass accumulation, water and radiation use efficiency, was carried out on kenaf under a typically semi-arid Mediterranean climate of South Italy. In cv. Tainung 2, four different water regimes (I₀ = no irrigation, I₂₅, I₅₀ and I₁₀₀ = 25, 50 and 100% ETc restoration, respectively) and three nitrogen levels (N₀ = no nitrogen, N₇₅ and N₁₅₀ = 75 and 150 kg ha⁻¹ of N, respectively) were studied. The amount of water applied strongly affected plant growth (in terms of LAI, plant height and biomass) and final total and stem dry yield, which significantly increased from I₀ to I₁₀₀. Nitrogen did not exert any beneficial effect upon dry yield. Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE), calculated in the second year only, was the highest (1.95 g DM MJ⁻¹) in fully irrigated treatment (I₁₀₀) and the lowest (0.86 g DM MJ⁻¹) in the dry control.Water use efficiency (WUE) was rather similar among water regimes, whilst irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) progressively increased with the decrease of total volume of water distributed to the crop by irrigation, from 3.47 to 12.45 kg m⁻³ in 2004 and from 4.27 to 7.72 kg m⁻³ in 2005. The results obtained from this research demonstrate that in semi-arid areas of South Italy, irrigation at a reduced rate (50% ETc restoration) may be advantageous, since it allowed a 42–45% irrigation water saving, when compared to the fully irrigation treatment, against a 23% (in 2004) and 36% (in 2005) yield reduction, and a still good efficiency (near that potential) in transforming the solar radiation in dry biomass was maintained (RUE = 1.76 g DM MJ⁻¹, against 1.95 g DM MJ⁻¹ in fully irrigated treatment).     

The effect of different biochars on the growth and water use efficiency of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

In two identical pot trials, we investigated the effect of different biochars on the growth and water use efficiency (WUE) of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) grown with and without water stress. Plants were grown in pots with and without biochar. Rice husk (RH), standard rice husk (SRH), standard wheat straw (SWS) or standard oilseed rape straw (SOS) biochars were added at a rate of 2% by weight. Irrigation was reduced from 80% of field capacity to 40% in half of the pots to create water stress when 50% of the plants flowered. No significant interaction was observed between irrigation and biochar treatments. Water stress resulted in smaller plants (11.5%), fewer pods (16.1%) and reduced 100-seed weight (12.6%), seed yield (20.1%) and plant dry weight (55.0%). All standard biochars increased plant dry weight in a range of 18%−25% compared with the controls. There was no significant effect of biochar on the number of pods and seed weight. Only RH, SWS and SOS biochar increased the number of seeds pod⁻¹ by 9.0%−14.5% compared with the controls regardless of water stress. RH and SOS biochars increased seed yield by 16.7 and 21.6%, respectively. RH, SWS and SOS biochar increased the WUE by 17.3%, 10.1% and 16.2% regardless of water stress, respectively. Based on the experiment, we recommend farmers to add biochar whatever type they have available. However, RH and SOS seem to be better than the others are, as they seem to be able to increase seed yield and WUE considerably.     

Stable isotope technique in the evaluation of tillage and fertilizer effects on soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration and water use efficiency

Agricultural soil could be made to serve as a sink rather than a source of greenhouse gases by suitable soil management. This study was, therefore, conducted to assess the impact of tillage and fertilizer application on soil and plant carbon and nitrogen fractionation and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE). The experiment was a split–split-plot factorial design with three replications. The main plot consisted of two tillage treatments: zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT). The sub-plot contained four NPK fertilizer treatments (0, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹), while the sub–sub-plot comprised three poultry manure (PM) treatments (0, 10 and 20 Mg ha⁻¹). Soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration were evaluated using stable isotope of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N). The δ¹³C in maize plant was used to obtain iWUE. It was observed that soil δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were more depleted under ZT than CT and in plots treated with 20 Mg ha⁻¹ PM (PM₂₀) implying carbon and nitrogen sequestration under ZT and by PM₂₀. Relative to the control, application of PM₂₀ raised soil δ¹⁵N enrichment by 82% and 96% under CT and ZT, respectively. Higher iWUE of 25.7% was obtained under CT and was significantly higher than the iWUE values under ZT in the second year of the study while the iWUE was significantly lower with PM₂₀ application than other fertilizer treatments. The significant δ¹³C depletion and hence lower iWUE with combination of NPK fertilizer and PM under CT than the control implied that soil disturbance under tilled plots was mediated by combined nutrient management thereby limiting soil C available for fractionation resulting in lower iWUE. This suggests that conservation tillage such as zero tillage and integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers are good strategies for reducing soil carbon and nitrogen emission.     

The impact of genotype x soil texture interaction on the efficiency of selection for yield in maize (Zea mays L.)

Summary This study was undertaken to investigate the implications of genotype x soil texture interaction on response to selection in maize. Mass honeycomb selection for yield was applied for 11 cycles from the F₂ of the single cross maize hybrid F68×NE2 in a field B with silty-clay-loam soil texture. Response to selection compared to the original single cross hybrid was estimated both in absence of competition and under solid stand in the selection field B and in a nearby field A differing in soil texture (clay-loam).A strong crossover type of interaction occurred both under solid stand and in the absence of competition in the two tests the improved population outyielded the hybrid in field B in the two densities, but lagged behing the hybrid in field A. The results suggest that interaction between genotype and soil texture might affect efficiency of selection detrimentally unless provision is taken for parallel selection early in the crop improvement program in fields differing in soil texture.     

Adaptation of a functional model of grassland to simulate the behaviour of irrigated grasslands under a Mediterranean climate: The Crau case

In order to take into account firstly the specificities of Mediterranean weather conditions on grass growth and secondly the effect of irrigation management on hay, we adapted an already published model of grassland growth. From literature new equations were added to account for water balance, botanical composition and the effect of wind. The modified model was parameterised based on new experimental data. An automatic and rigorous parameter estimation procedure was developed based on a criterion that combines the goodness-of-fit for dry matter (DM), leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of total transpirable soil water (FTSW). Mean squared error of prediction (MSEP) was estimated using cross-validation.Adding the three equations for water balance, botanical composition and wind effect improved the goodness-of-fit of the model. A sensitivity analysis showed that the model results were mainly sensitive to the parameter that controls the increase of leaf area index and to the radiation use efficiency coefficient. Both absolute values and dynamics of DM, LAI and FTSW were well simulated and satisfactory for future use of the model in a decision support tool. Estimated MSEP values for DM, LAI and FTSW were 0.145 T ha⁻¹, 0.092 m² m⁻² and 0.0155% respectively.     

No-tillage permanent bed planting and controlled traffic in a maize-cotton irrigated system under Mediterranean conditions: Effects on soil compaction,crop performance and carbon sequestration

Under irrigated Mediterranean conditions, no-tillage permanent bed planting (PB) is a promising agriculture system for improving soil protection and for soil carbon sequestration. However, soil compaction may increase with time up to levels that reduce crop yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term effects of PB on soil compaction, root growth, crop yield and carbon sequestration compared with conventionally tilled bed planting (CB) and with a variant of PB that had partial subsoiling (DPB) in a Typic Xerofluvents soil (Soil Survey Staff, 2010) in southern Spain. Traffic was controlled during the whole study and beds, and furrows with (F + T) and without traffic (F − T), were spatially distinguished during measurements. Comparisons were made during a crop sequence of maize (Zea mays L.)—cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)—maize, corresponding to years 4–6 since trial establishment. After six years, soil compaction was higher in PB than in CB, particularly under the bed (44 and 27% higher in top 0.3- and 0.6-m soil layers, respectively). Around this time, maize root density at early grain filling was 17% lower in PB than in CB in the top 0.6-m layer. In DPB, the subsoiling operation was not effective in increasing root density. Nevertheless, root density appeared to maintain above-ground growth and yield in both PB and DPB compared to CB. Furthermore, at the end of the study, more soil organic carbon was stocked in PB than in CB and the difference increased significantly with a depth down to 0.5 m (5.7 Mg ha⁻¹ increment for the top 0.5-m soil layer). Residues tended to accumulate on furrows, and this resulted in spatial and temporal differences in superficial soil organic carbon concentration (SOC) in the permanent planting systems. In PB, SOC in the top 0.05-m layer increased with time faster in furrows than on beds, and reached higher stable values (1.67 vs. 1.09% values, respectively). In CB, tillage homogenized the soil and reduced SOC in the top 0.05-m layer (average stable value of 0.96% on average for beds and furrows).     

荒漠绿洲不同种植方式对青贮玉米产量及水肥利用效率的影响

合理的种植方式可以在不增加灌溉耗水量的前提下,利用植物个体间的正相互作用关系和群体适应特点来达到提高作物产量和水分利用效率的目的。通过田间试验,研究了河西走廊黑河中游边缘绿洲区1穴1株、1穴2株和1穴3株种植方式对青贮玉米产量及水肥利用效率的影响。结果表明,1穴2株和1穴3株的地上生物产量均高于1穴1株,1穴2株最高,鲜重为102.9 t/hm~2,比1穴1株提高了29.4%;1穴2株与1穴1株之间存在显著差异(P0.05),1穴3株与1穴1株之间差异不显著(P0.05)。同样,1穴2株和1穴3株的地上生物产量水肥利用效率也均高于1穴1株,1穴2株的水分和氮肥利用效率也均最高,分别为9.3 kg/m~3和342.9 kg/kg;1穴2株与1穴1株之间存在显著差异(P0.05),1穴3株与1穴1株之间差异不显著(P0.05)。在河西走廊边缘绿洲区,采用1穴2株的种植方式能显著提高青贮玉米的地上生物产量和水肥利用效率,可在生产中推广应用。     

The effect of water and nitrogen availability during grain filling on the timing of dormancy release in malting barley crops

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) causes immediate loss of seed viability, making barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grains worthless for malting purposes. Grain dormancy release rate in barley crops is genetically and environmentally controlled. A 2 year experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil nitrogen and water availability during grain filling on the dormancy release pattern (and then on the PHS susceptibility) for five malting barley commercial cultivars. Drought and well-irrigated control treatments were imposed from anthesis onwards, and contrast nitrogen fertilization treatments were applied at tillering. Nitrogen availability showed no effects on dormancy release. Drought during grain filling accelerated dormancy release with respect to well-irrigated control in 2004, but not in 2005 year. Mean temperatures during the last stages of grain filling were much higher (ca. 6°C) in 2005 than in 2004, indicating that high-dormancy loss promoting temperatures had masked drought effects on dormancy release.     

长期施肥对红壤旱地作物产量及肥料效益影响

摘要：通过对红壤旱地13年连续监测研究,发现在红壤地区红壤旱地上：长期使用化学肥料,其肥料利用率和作物产量表现为逐步下降的趋势。在N处理中,前5年比CK处理,玉米平均增产213%,小麦增产96%;10年以后,玉米平均减产45%,小麦减产85%;在NP、NK、NPK处理中,与N处理具有相同的趋势;在NPKM、M处理中,玉米和小麦产量表现为平稳和轻微的上升趋势。肥料的利用率变化与产量变化具有同一性。为提高红壤旱地玉米和小麦子粒的品质,使用化学氮肥是一项必不可少的技术措施,同时化学氮肥对玉米和小麦子粒品质提高效果大于有机氮。     

The effect of a sandy soil amendment with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost on nitrogen uptake efficiency by plants

The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost application on soil properties, nitrogen availability to plants and its uptake efficiency. The paper deals with results of a three-year field experiment where two different MSW composts were non-recurrently applied to sandy soil at rates of 18, 36 and 72 t ha⁻¹ (dry mass). Plots without fertilisation as well as plots fertilised each year with mineral forms of NPK were the controls, and spring triticale was cultivated in a monoculture on all plots as a test plant. Soil properties, plant yield and nitrogen content in grain and straw were determined at harvest, and on this basis the applied nitrogen uptake efficiency was calculated. During the first year, only the plots with the highest dose of the better-quality compost had yields similar to the plots fertilised with mineral NPK. Following the years of the experiment, all the plots treated with compost had distinctly lower yields than the plots fertilised with mineral NPK. That decrease was accompanied by a decrease in the nitrogen content in straw and grain, in spite of the fact that the soil material indicated a similar content of total nitrogen to those fertilised with NPK. This indicates that organic matter brought into the soil with MSW compost was intensively mineralised, releasing a considerable amount of nitrogen. However, the plant response indicated a shortage of the plant-available forms of this element. The efficiency of compost-originated nitrogen uptake by plants was very low, at less than 7% of the applied nitrogen. This indicates that plants can take up only a limited amount of nitrogen released from the compost, while considerable amounts are emitted into the atmosphere.     

Marker-assisted selection efficiency in multiple connected populations: a simulation study based on the results of a QTL detection experiment in maize

Many studies already investigated marker-assisted selection (MAS) efficiency but mainly in biparental populations. Connected multiparental populations address a broader diversity and confer a gain of power for QTL detection which must be beneficial for MAS. Our objective was to compare multiparental connected designs to biparental populations taken separately for MAS and phenotypic selection. We first detected QTL for flowering time and grain yield in an experimental maize design involving four parental inbred lines crossed to produce six different biparental populations and confirmed the advantage of multiparental connected designs over biparental populations for QTL detection. Based on these results we performed stochastic simulations to evaluate the expected efficiency of four generations of MAS and phenotypic selection. Different parameters were considered: trait heritability, genetic architecture and whether QTL were assumed to be known or have to be detected. Genetic gains were higher in the multiparental design than on average over the biparental populations considered separately, especially when favourable alleles were equally distributed among parental lines. When QTL detection was included in the simulation process, we found that type I error risk considered for declaring QTL as significant should be adapted to the design. Type I error risks leading to the best response were higher for the biparental populations than for the multiparental design. Besides addressing a broader diversity, multiparental designs increase the power of QTL detection, which reinforces their superiority over biparental designs for MAS. Application of MAS to multiparental designs therefore appears promising to accelerate genetic gain in plant breeding programs.     

The effect of tillage system and residue management on grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat in a cool Atlantic climate

The effects of soil tillage and straw management systems on the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) were evaluated in a cool Atlantic climate, in central Ireland between 2009 and 2011. Two tillage systems, conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT) each with and without incorporation of the straw of the preceding crop, were compared at five levels of fertiliser N (0, 140, 180, 220 and 260 kg N ha⁻¹).CT had a significantly higher mean grain yield over the three years but the effect of tillage varied between years. Yields did not differ in 2009 (Year 1), while CT produced significantly higher grain yields in 2010 (Year 2), while RT produced the highest yields in 2011 (Year 3). Straw incorporation had no significant effect in any year.Nitrogen application significantly increased the grain yields of all establishment treatment combinations. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) ranged from 14.6 to 62.4 kg grain (85% DM) kg N ha⁻¹ and decreased as N fertiliser rate was increased.The CT system had a significantly higher mean NUE over the three years but the effect of tillage varied with years. While there was no tillage effect in years 1 and 3, CT had a significantly higher NUE than RT in year 2. Straw management system had minimal effect on NUE in any year.The effect of tillage and N rate on soil mineral N content also varied between years. While there was no tillage effect in years 1 and 3, RT had significantly larger soil N contents than CT in the spring before N application, and post-harvest in year 2. N application rates had no effect on soil N in year 1, increased residual N content in year 2 and had an inconsistent effect in year 3. Straw management had no significant effect on soil mineral N content.These results indicate that RT establishment systems can be used to produce similar winter wheat yields to CT systems in a cool Atlantic climate, providing weather conditions at establishment are favourable. The response to nitrogen is similar with both tillage systems where the crop is successfully established. Straw management system has very little effect on crop performance or nitrogen uptake.     

The role of soil characteristics,soil tillage and drip irrigation in the timber production of a wild cherry orchard under Mediterranean conditions

Over the last decade high-quality timber plantations have increased in Europe because of the constant high market price of timber and economical incentives from the EU. These latter are mainly due to timber plantations’ role in CO₂ capture. Noble wood plantations have also been established in Mediterranean areas, but many of them suffer from low growth rates due to deficient plantation management and/or non-optimal environmental conditions. Furthermore, little information exists about soil and water management in these plantations and how different soil characteristics may affect management results. In this study, a trial was established in a pure wild cherry plantation under Mediterranean conditions. The trial evaluated the effects that soil type (low soil quality versus good performance for woody crops), soil management (soil tillage versus no tillage), irrigation regime (drip irrigation versus no irrigation) and their interactions may have on wood production. Soil water content and the spontaneous vegetation that appeared in the alleys of the no-tillage treatments were also measured.The results showed that sandy-clay-loam soil with a water-holding capacity of 101.5 ± 5.2 mm had 65% more wood volume increase during the study period than sandy-loam soil with a water-holding capacity of 37.9 ± 8.0 mm. Conventional tillage or zero tillage with the presence of spontaneous vegetation did not differ significantly in wood volume increment, regardless of the type of soil. Although soil water content was significantly increased by tillage in sandy-loam soil, this effect was not enough to increase tree wood volume. On the other hand, the application of drip irrigation did increase wood production by up to 50%. Therefore, 10 years less on the plantation's rotation length can be anticipated when applying irrigation: from 40 to 30 years (sandy–clay–loam soil) and from 56 to 46 years (sandy-loam soil).In conclusion, deep soil characterization of the site is essential before deciding whether to develop a plantation of this type in areas under soil water content limitations caused by deficient soil structure and texture. In addition, our results show important savings can be made by reducing soil tillage, as less tillage leads to greater ground cover and biodiversity. Further investigations are required to examine how long-lasting the effects are and what other benefits can be expected when this type of plantation is managed in a more sustainable way.