| Abstract: | Summary Traditionally in Morocco the wooden plow was the most widely used implement for soil tillage, especially on sloping lands. Mechanization was introduced on flat areas and was extended more and more toward sloping lands, so the tillage accentuated the problems of water runoff and soil erosion. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of micro-basins on runoff, water storage by increasing infiltration, and wheat yield. In addition, the interaction with weeding was tested to reduce water losses by evapotranspiration from weeds. Four treatments were used, as follows: BW (micro-basins, weeded), NBW (no micro-basins, weeded), BNW (micro-basins, not weeded) and NBNW (no micro-basins, not weeded). Field experiments were carried out during three years using a split plot design with four replications: two at Meknès in 1990-91 and 1991-92 and a third at Khémisset (1992-93). Slopes were 2.5% for Meknès and 3.5% for Khémisset. Rainfall received was 523.3, 483.7, and 473.0 mm, respectively, for the 1990-91, 1991-92, and 1993-94 growing seasons. The results showed that the effect of micro-basins in interaction with weeding was statistically significant in 1990-91 and 1993-94 for soil water storage, grain yield, spikes/m2, kernels/m2, thousand kernel weight, and water use efficiency. In 1991-92, yield increases were not significant, because of a drought that lasted almost two months after emergence. We conclude that these technical management practices are especially important in rainy years when rainfall intensities are high and cause water runoff. |
