Yield and water use efficiency of barley in a semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystem: long-term effects of tillage and N fertilization

Published source details Morell F.J., Lampurlanés J., Álvaro-Fuentes J. & Cantero-Martínez C. (2011) Yield and water use efficiency of barley in a semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystem: long-term effects of tillage and N fertilization. Soil & Tillage Research, 117, 76-84.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Crop production: Use no tillage instead of reduced tillage Action Link
	Water: Use no tillage instead of reduced tillage Action Link
	Water: Use no tillage in arable fields Action Link
	Water: Use reduced tillage in arable fields Action Link
	Soil: Use no tillage instead of reduced tillage Action Link
	Crop production: Use reduced tillage in arable fields Action Link
	Crop production: Use no tillage in arable fields Action Link
	Soil: Use no tillage in arable fields Action Link
	Soil: Use reduced tillage in arable fields Action Link

Crop production: Use no tillage instead of reduced tillage

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (5,6)), found higher barley yields in plots with no tillage, compared to reduced tillage. Crop yield: Higher barley yields were found in plots with no tillage, compared to reduced tillage (2,062 vs 1,792 kg/ha). Methods: No tillage or reduced tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots). A cultivator was used for reduced tillage (10–15 cm depth, 50% incorporation of crop residues), in October or November. A seed drill and herbicide were used for no tillage. Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Mature barley was harvested in June 2006–2009.
Water: Use no tillage instead of reduced tillage

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (3,6)), found higher water-use efficiency in plots with no tillage, compared to reduced tillage, in one of four comparisons. Water use: Higher water-use efficiency was found in plots with no tillage, compared to reduced tillage, in one of four comparisons (6.0 vs 4.3 kg barley grain/mm rainfall). Methods: No tillage or reduced tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots). A cultivator was used for reduced tillage (10–15 cm depth, 50% incorporation of crop residues), in October or November. A seed drill and herbicide were used for no tillage. Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Soil samples were collected five times/year (two samples/plot, 4 cm diameter soil auger, 0–100 cm depth) in 2005–2009. Mature barley was harvested in June 2006–2009.
Water: Use no tillage in arable fields

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (6,9)), found that barley used water more efficiently in plots with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in two of three comparisons. Water use: Higher water-use efficiency was found in plots with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in two of three comparisons (5.7–6.0 vs 1.8–2.1 kg barley grain/mm rainfall). Methods: No tillage or conventional tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots). A mouldboard plough was used for conventional tillage (25–30 cm depth, 100% incorporation of crop residues), in October or November. A seed drill and herbicide were used for no tillage. Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Soil samples were collected five times/year (two samples/plot, 4 cm diameter soil auger, 0–100 cm depth) in 2005–2009. Mature barley was harvested in June 2006–2009.
Water: Use reduced tillage in arable fields

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (5,8)), found higher water-use efficiency in plots with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in two of three comparisons. Water use: Higher water-use efficiency was found in plots with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in two of three comparisons (4.3–5.2 vs 1.8–2.1 kg barley grain/mm rainfall). Methods: Reduced tillage or conventional tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots), in October or November. A mouldboard plough was used for conventional tillage (25–30 cm depth, 100% incorporation of crop residues). A cultivator was used for reduced tillage (10–15 cm depth, 50% incorporation of crop residues). Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Soil samples were collected five times/year (two samples/plot, 4 cm diameter soil auger, 0–100 cm depth) in 2005–2009. Mature barley was harvested in June 2006–2009.
Soil: Use no tillage instead of reduced tillage

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (2,8,12)), found less nitrate in soils with no tillage, compared to reduced tillage. Nutrients: Less nitrate was found in soils with no tillage, compared to reduced tillage (270 vs 461 kg N–NO₃/ha), but no differences in ammonium were found (amounts of ammonium not reported). Methods: No tillage or reduced tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots). A cultivator was used for reduced tillage (10–15 cm depth, 50% incorporation of crop residues), in October or November. A seed drill and herbicide were used for no tillage. Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Soil samples were collected when sowing the crop in November 2005–2008 (two samples/plot, 4 cm diameter soil auger, 0–100 cm depth).
Crop production: Use reduced tillage in arable fields

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (3,12-14,17)), found higher crop yields in plots with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage. Crop yield: Higher barley yields were found in plots with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in six of nine comparisons (1,050–1,950 vs 300–700 kg/ha). Methods: Reduced tillage or conventional tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots) in October or November. A mouldboard plough was used for conventional tillage (25–30 cm depth, 100% incorporation of crop residues). A cultivator was used for reduced tillage (10–15 cm depth, 50% incorporation of crop residues). Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Mature barley was harvested in June 2006–2009.
Crop production: Use no tillage in arable fields

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (4,11,12,15)), found higher barley yields in plots with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage. Crop yield: Higher barley yields were found in plots with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage (2,062 vs 1,155 kg/ha). Methods: No tillage or conventional tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots). A mouldboard plough was used for conventional tillage (25–30 cm depth, 100% incorporation of crop residues), in October or November. A seed drill and herbicide were used for no tillage. Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Mature barley was harvested in June 2006–2009.
Soil: Use no tillage in arable fields

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (4,17,24,26)), found less nitrate in soils with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in one of two comparisons. Nutrients: Less nitrate was found in soils with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage (270 vs 852 kg N–NO₃/ha), but no differences in ammonium were found (amounts of ammonium not reported). Methods: No tillage or conventional tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots). A mouldboard plough was used for conventional tillage (25–30 cm depth, 100% incorporation of crop residues), in October or November. A seed drill and herbicide were used for no tillage. Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Soil samples were collected when sowing the crop in November 2005–2008 (two samples/plot, 4 cm diameter soil auger, 0–100 cm depth).
Soil: Use reduced tillage in arable fields

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1996–2009 in a rainfed barley field in the Ebro river valley, Spain (same study as (3,20,25,30)), found less nitrate in soils with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage. Nutrients: Less nitrate was found in soils with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage (461 vs 852 kg N-NO₃/ha), but no differences in ammonium were found (amounts of ammonium not reported). Methods: Reduced tillage or conventional tillage was used on nine plots each (50 x 6 m plots) in October or November. A mouldboard plough was used for conventional tillage (25–30 cm depth, 100% incorporation of crop residues). A cultivator was used for reduced tillage (10–15 cm depth, 50% incorporation of crop residues). Two-thirds of the plots were fertilized (60 or 120 kg N/ha). Soil samples were collected when sowing the crop in November 2005–2008 (two samples/plot, 4 cm diameter soil auger, 0–100 cm depth).