Productivity of Wheat Landraces in Rainfed and Irrigated Conditions under Conventional and Organic Input in a Semiarid Mediterranean Environment

Summary

This field trial evaluated the agronomic performance and resilience of traditional Sicilian wheat landraces compared to modern varieties across contrasting management systems and water availability in a semiarid Mediterranean environment. While modern varieties achieved higher average yields, certain landraces proved competitive under organic management, and all landraces demonstrated greater productivity stability under rainfed conditions and lower-input systems. The findings suggest that landraces offer a viable option for sustainable wheat production in water-constrained Mediterranean regions.

Regional applicability

The study's focus on rainfed and semiarid Mediterranean conditions has limited direct applicability to UK cereal production, which typically benefits from higher rainfall and cooler summers. However, the principles regarding landrace resilience in low-input systems may inform UK organic cereal breeding and management strategies, particularly as climate variability increases.

Key measures

Grain yield (tonnes/hectare, implied), productivity response to management type, grain quality traits, yield loss under rainfed versus irrigated conditions

Outcomes reported

The study compared grain yield, productivity response, and grain quality traits of Sicilian wheat landraces and modern varieties under organic and conventional management, in both rainfed and irrigated conditions on xerofluvent soil in a semiarid Mediterranean climate.

Topic tags