Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of Argentina

SUMMARY The influence of soil depth (SD) on the content of available water at sowing (AWS), in November (AWN) and crop yield (YLD) was studied in a wheat monoculture under no-till in the semi-arid region of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The objectives were to set and rank relationships between v...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hugo Krüger, Franco Frolla, Josefina Zilio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asociación Argentina de la Ciencia del Suelo 2020-12-01
Series:Ciencia del Suelo
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1850-20672020000200274&lng=en&tlng=en
_version_ 1819240198113853440
author Hugo Krüger
Franco Frolla
Josefina Zilio
author_facet Hugo Krüger
Franco Frolla
Josefina Zilio
author_sort Hugo Krüger
collection DOAJ
description SUMMARY The influence of soil depth (SD) on the content of available water at sowing (AWS), in November (AWN) and crop yield (YLD) was studied in a wheat monoculture under no-till in the semi-arid region of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The objectives were to set and rank relationships between variables such as SD, precipitation and soil water availability on YLD under zero tillage and to establish a critical SD value for less random economic returns. At 15 points selected annually in a commercial field, AWS, AWN and YLD were measured during seven years. Relative yields (RYLD) were calculated and simple regression and classification-regression tree procedures were used. Minimum and maximum absolute yields were 870 and 5900 kg ha-1. Significant relationships were observed between SD and YLD in six of the seven years. A critical SD of 0.52 m was established for an RYLD value of 0.68, which corresponds to a production range between 1500 and 4000 kg grain ha-1. All years showed relationship between SD and AWS (R2> 0.31, p<0.06), and six of them with AWN (R2> 0.34, p<0.02). In turn, soil water content influenced crop yield: AWS in five years (R2> 0.41, p<0.01), and AWN in six (R2> 0.23, p<0.07). Although there was a relationship between these variables and rainfall, no significant correlations could be established. Classification-regression tree selected SD as the first determinant variable for wheat RYLD, followed by rainfall during the crop cycle and rainfall in November for the shallower soils. Rainfall during crop cycle and during fallow was the determinant variable for the deeper ones. Results indicate that site-specific nutrient management is possible based on SD.
first_indexed 2024-12-23T14:04:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-dd1868b6a274447e93e0b7b7c12c0424
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1850-2067
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-23T14:04:12Z
publishDate 2020-12-01
publisher Asociación Argentina de la Ciencia del Suelo
record_format Article
series Ciencia del Suelo
spelling doaj.art-dd1868b6a274447e93e0b7b7c12c04242022-12-21T17:44:14ZengAsociación Argentina de la Ciencia del SueloCiencia del Suelo1850-20672020-12-01382274283Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of ArgentinaHugo KrügerFranco FrollaJosefina ZilioSUMMARY The influence of soil depth (SD) on the content of available water at sowing (AWS), in November (AWN) and crop yield (YLD) was studied in a wheat monoculture under no-till in the semi-arid region of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The objectives were to set and rank relationships between variables such as SD, precipitation and soil water availability on YLD under zero tillage and to establish a critical SD value for less random economic returns. At 15 points selected annually in a commercial field, AWS, AWN and YLD were measured during seven years. Relative yields (RYLD) were calculated and simple regression and classification-regression tree procedures were used. Minimum and maximum absolute yields were 870 and 5900 kg ha-1. Significant relationships were observed between SD and YLD in six of the seven years. A critical SD of 0.52 m was established for an RYLD value of 0.68, which corresponds to a production range between 1500 and 4000 kg grain ha-1. All years showed relationship between SD and AWS (R2> 0.31, p<0.06), and six of them with AWN (R2> 0.34, p<0.02). In turn, soil water content influenced crop yield: AWS in five years (R2> 0.41, p<0.01), and AWN in six (R2> 0.23, p<0.07). Although there was a relationship between these variables and rainfall, no significant correlations could be established. Classification-regression tree selected SD as the first determinant variable for wheat RYLD, followed by rainfall during the crop cycle and rainfall in November for the shallower soils. Rainfall during crop cycle and during fallow was the determinant variable for the deeper ones. Results indicate that site-specific nutrient management is possible based on SD.http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1850-20672020000200274&lng=en&tlng=enVariable managementsemi-aridno tillMollisol
spellingShingle Hugo Krüger
Franco Frolla
Josefina Zilio
Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of Argentina
Ciencia del Suelo
Variable management
semi-arid
no till
Mollisol
title Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of Argentina
title_full Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of Argentina
title_fullStr Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of Argentina
title_short Soil depth, water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of Argentina
title_sort soil depth water availability and wheat yield in the austral pampa of argentina
topic Variable management
semi-arid
no till
Mollisol
url http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1850-20672020000200274&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT hugokruger soildepthwateravailabilityandwheatyieldintheaustralpampaofargentina
AT francofrolla soildepthwateravailabilityandwheatyieldintheaustralpampaofargentina
AT josefinazilio soildepthwateravailabilityandwheatyieldintheaustralpampaofargentina