Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and Quality

Mitigation practices for cereal systems, including conservation agriculture and low emission fertilization, are required to face global challenges of food security and climate change. The combination of these climate-smart approaches was investigated for durum wheat in a dry region of the Mediterran...

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Main Authors: Michele Andrea De Santis, Luigia Giuzio, Damiana Tozzi, Mario Soccio, Zina Flagella
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2794
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author Michele Andrea De Santis
Luigia Giuzio
Damiana Tozzi
Mario Soccio
Zina Flagella
author_facet Michele Andrea De Santis
Luigia Giuzio
Damiana Tozzi
Mario Soccio
Zina Flagella
author_sort Michele Andrea De Santis
collection DOAJ
description Mitigation practices for cereal systems, including conservation agriculture and low emission fertilization, are required to face global challenges of food security and climate change. The combination of these climate-smart approaches was investigated for durum wheat in a dry region of the Mediterranean basin in two crop seasons. The experimental design consisted in two different genotypes, Marco Aurelio (high protein content) and Saragolla (higher adaptability), subjected to no tillage (NT) vs. conventional tillage (CT) and to two fertilization strategies (standard vs. low emission plus an unfertilized control). Different environmental and economic sustainability parameters as well as two different technological and nutritional quality traits were evaluated. Saragolla showed a better environmental adaptability and a higher nitrogen use efficiency, evaluated as partial nutrient balance (+27%), and was associated with a lower protein content (14.5% vs. 15.6%). NT was associated with an improvement in yield (+15%) and quality, i.e., micronutrients (Fe, Zn) and antioxidant capacity (+15%), in the drier crop year. Low emission fertilization did not reduce crop performance and its combination with NT showed a higher economic net return. The combination of the two mitigation practices improved not only environmental and economic sustainability but also the health quality of durum wheat under water limited conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-9f7dbf6073ac439686e55bc9813f85d12025-08-20T02:53:30ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-11-011412279410.3390/agronomy14122794Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and QualityMichele Andrea De Santis0Luigia Giuzio1Damiana Tozzi2Mario Soccio3Zina Flagella4Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, ItalyMitigation practices for cereal systems, including conservation agriculture and low emission fertilization, are required to face global challenges of food security and climate change. The combination of these climate-smart approaches was investigated for durum wheat in a dry region of the Mediterranean basin in two crop seasons. The experimental design consisted in two different genotypes, Marco Aurelio (high protein content) and Saragolla (higher adaptability), subjected to no tillage (NT) vs. conventional tillage (CT) and to two fertilization strategies (standard vs. low emission plus an unfertilized control). Different environmental and economic sustainability parameters as well as two different technological and nutritional quality traits were evaluated. Saragolla showed a better environmental adaptability and a higher nitrogen use efficiency, evaluated as partial nutrient balance (+27%), and was associated with a lower protein content (14.5% vs. 15.6%). NT was associated with an improvement in yield (+15%) and quality, i.e., micronutrients (Fe, Zn) and antioxidant capacity (+15%), in the drier crop year. Low emission fertilization did not reduce crop performance and its combination with NT showed a higher economic net return. The combination of the two mitigation practices improved not only environmental and economic sustainability but also the health quality of durum wheat under water limited conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2794conservative agricultureclimate-smart crop productionmicronutrientsAOXglutendurum wheat quality
spellingShingle Michele Andrea De Santis
Luigia Giuzio
Damiana Tozzi
Mario Soccio
Zina Flagella
Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and Quality
Agronomy
conservative agriculture
climate-smart crop production
micronutrients
AOX
gluten
durum wheat quality
title Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and Quality
title_full Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and Quality
title_fullStr Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and Quality
title_full_unstemmed Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and Quality
title_short Impact of No Tillage and Low Emission N Fertilization on Durum Wheat Sustainability, Profitability and Quality
title_sort impact of no tillage and low emission n fertilization on durum wheat sustainability profitability and quality
topic conservative agriculture
climate-smart crop production
micronutrients
AOX
gluten
durum wheat quality
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2794
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