Assessing the Potential of Cereal Production Systems to Adapt to Contrasting Weather Conditions in the Mediterranean Region
Marie Therese Abi Saab,
Mohamed Houssemeddine Sellami,
Pasquale Giorio,
Angelo Basile,
Antonello Bonfante,
Youssef Rouphael,
Salim Fahed,
Ihab Jomaa,
Chafic Stephan,
Rabih Kabalan,
Randa Massaad,
Mladen Todorovic,
Rossella Albrizio
Affiliations
Marie Therese Abi Saab
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 90-1965, Fanar, Lebanon
Mohamed Houssemeddine Sellami
National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-I.S.A.FO.M.), Via Patacca, 85-80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy
Pasquale Giorio
National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-I.S.A.FO.M.), Via Patacca, 85-80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy
Angelo Basile
National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-I.S.A.FO.M.), Via Patacca, 85-80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy
Antonello Bonfante
National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-I.S.A.FO.M.), Via Patacca, 85-80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy
Youssef Rouphael
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80050 Portici, Italy
Salim Fahed
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 90-1965, Fanar, Lebanon
Ihab Jomaa
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 287, Tal Amara, Lebanon
Chafic Stephan
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 287, Tal Amara, Lebanon
Rabih Kabalan
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 287, Tal Amara, Lebanon
Randa Massaad
Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 287, Tal Amara, Lebanon
Mladen Todorovic
CIHEAM—Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
Rossella Albrizio
National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-I.S.A.FO.M.), Via Patacca, 85-80056 Ercolano (NA), Italy
Variable rainfall, water stress, and spring frost are the main challenges for cereal growers in the Mediterranean region. The potential of wheat and barley to adapt to contrasting weather conditions was investigated through the adoption of no-till, supplemental irrigation and drought tolerant cultivars over a period of three years. Seasonal precipitation was 732, 336 and 685 mm in the first, second and third seasons, respectively. The second and third seasons were characterized by the occurrence of spring frost. No tillage did not affect productivity in either crop, while supplemental irrigation increased yield only in barley. For wheat, the grain yield was 60 and 43% respectively lower in the second and third seasons than in the first season. For barley, grain yield was 43% higher in the first season than the other two. The negative effect of frost on wheat yield was indirectly assessed by crop growth simulation. Principal component analysis shows that freezing temperatures associated with spring frost and rainfall both dictated crop growth and productivity.
