Three-Year Effects of Conventional Tillage versus Direct Seeding on Root System Development and Soil Hydro-Physical Properties of Durum Wheat under Semi-Arid Conditions of Algeria

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Rima LABAD 1
ZEKARI MOHAMMEDI 1
Mokrane KADIR 2
Nasredine LOUAHDI 1
Mohamed Amine FEDDAL 1
1 Agricultural Water Management Laboratory (LMEA), Department of Agricultural Engineering, National Higher School of Agronomy (ENSA), El Harrach, Algeria.
2 Department of Hydraulics, Faculty of Construction Engineering, Mouloud Mammeri University, Algeria.
Abstract
In semi-arid regions, where water scarcity limits cereal production, tillage practices significantly influence soil properties and root development in durum wheat (Triticum durum). This study evaluated the effects of conventional tillage (CT) and direct seeding (DS) on the root system under rainfed conditions over three growing seasons (2017-2021) in the northeastern part of Algeria. The experimental site was characterized by clay loam soil, low organic matter content, and a semi-arid climate, with an average annual rainfall ranging from 200 to 400 mm. The objectives aimed to understand how root density (RD) and root surface area (RSA) are influenced by, and related to soil properties: soil moisture content (SMC), soil penetration resistance (SPR), soil porosity (SP), and infiltration rate (IR) under conventional tillage (CT) and direct seeding (DS) systems. Soil parameters were measured at key growth stages (emergence, tillering and heading). Statistical analyses were performed using Python and statsmodels, including Pearson correlations and multivariate linear regression. The DS generally maintained higher SMC during dry periods, reducing water stress compared to CT. SPR was higher under DS, indicating compaction, but SP and IR improved progressively under CT, enhancing aeration and water absorption. By the way, RD was stable under CT but increased under DS at tillering. By the way, RSA expanded more under DS over time, particularly at the heading stage, correlating positively with SMC (r= 0.74) and negatively with SPR (r= -0.55). Regression confirmed SMC as a key driver for both RD and RSA under DS (p< 0.01).
Keywords
Conventional tillage
Direct seeding
Root density
Root surface area
Soil parameters
Subjects
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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 September 2026