Water conservation in wheat rotations under several management and tillage systems in semiarid areas

Water conservation impact on wheat yield was evaluated during four years of study in semi-arid areas of Morocco. The absence of any data on water availability to the crop in a continuous cropping system compared to wheat after fallow led to this research. The ability of the soils to store water during fallow and stored water effectiveness on yield was studied. No-tillage management yielded more in continuous wheat and wheat after fallow. In a very dry year, grain yield in a no-tillage system was 100% and 72% higher than the conventional management and fall chisel plowing, respectively in continuous and wheat after fallow. In areas averaging 240 to 300 mm annual rainfall, wheat after fallow used water as efficiently as continuous wheat. No-till management and no soil disturbance in the dry period after harvest was a requirement for successful fallow