Effect of Tillage Systems and Water Stress on Growth and Yield of Wheat

Conservation tillage has been generally confirmed to improve water use efficiency, crop yield, and economic benefit. In order to evaluate the effect of tillage systems and water stress on growth and yield of wheat, a field experiment was conducted during in 2012 growing season as split plot arranged in randomized complete blocks design with four replications. The main plot includes different tillage systems (no tillage, conventional tillage and reduced tillage) and sub-plot, includes water stress at different growth stages {normal irrigation or control, cutting irrigation from stem elongation stage (severe stress), ear emergence (moderate stress) and grain filling (mild stress)}, respectively. The results showed that the most grain yield (6.91ton ha-1)was obtained in conventional tillage and control treatment (normal irrigation) with no significant differences with reduced tillage systems and normal irrigation (6.87 ton ha-1, while that conservation tillage was used less(32.4%) water compared conventional tillage. In general, water stress at different growth stages significantly decreased seed yield., Cutting irrigation at stem elongation, ear emergence and grain filling stages reduced yield 55.77%, 30.35% and 23.88% compared to control, respectively.Therefore, reduced tillage system is recommended for the region with consuming lesswater and seed yield equal conventional tillage.