Effect of supplemental irrigation on bread wheat genotypes yield under Mediterranean semi-arid conditions of north-eastern Algeria

Abstract

Different levels of supplemental irrigation regimes on four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were evaluated, two of which were introduced into Sétif region by ACSAD institution, during the growing season 2013-2014, in order to assess the effect of deficit irrigation pattern on yield traits performance and to determine most suitable genotype for local semi-arid conditions. On the basis of the experimentation data, it was found that supplemental irrigation improved the investigated genotypes yield, which ranged from 220.03 g m-2 for variety El-wifak in rainfed conditions to 368.3 g m-2 for variety Djanet (ACSAD899) with an increase of about 67%; just by applying two irrigations, the first at the jointing stage and the second at mid-flowering stage. This increase was related to the improvement of most agronomic traits that correlated significantly and positively with grain yield, in response to supplemental irrigation application. These findings indicated that Djanet (ACSAD899) was a genotype successfully introduced under irrigated conditions, while Hidhab (HD1220) with an average grain yield of 298.3 g m-2, proved to be more stable and well adapted to the locally rainfed conditions.