Evaluation of Tillage Systems on Wheat Crop Production Under Surface and Sprinkler Irrigation Methods: Application for Rural Areas Close to Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of soil conservation tillage systems on the growth and productivity of wheat crops under surface and sprinkler irrigation. Field trials were conducted in 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 using three tillage systems under a split-plot design by a systematic arrangement with three replicates. Experimental plots included two irrigation methods (surface and sprinkler), within which were sub-plots for conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), and zero tillage (ZT). The results show that surface irrigation treatment produced the greatest wheat crop growth (plant height, length of spike and biomass) in both seasons compared to sprinkler irrigation. The CT treatments resulted in better growth than ZT and MT. However, ZT recorded a decrease in biomass and grain yield of less than 10% compared to CT during both seasons, although superior plant height resulted from CT during the second season. Even so, ZT reduced the water use to 17% and 16% for the first and second seasons, respectively. These results indicate that ZT or MT may slightly reduce wheat yield under sprinkler and surface irrigation, but will consume less irrigation water, providing a sustainable strategy in water-deficient conditions.