Effects of Tillage System and Cultivation Year on Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Capacity of Durum Wheat under Rainfed Conditions
Nadia Chaieb *
University of Carthage, Laboratory of Agronomy, National Institute for Agronomic Research in Tunisia, Hedi Karray Street, 2049 Ariana, Tunisia. and On Transfer from Regional Office of Agriculture Development Research Semi-Arid North West, B.P. 221-7100 Le Kef, Tunisia to Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture (CRRHAB), University of Sousse, Chott Mariem 4042, Tunisia.
Sonia Labidi
Laboratory of Horticultural Sciences, LR13AGR01, Carthage University, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, 43 Ave Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Mahrajène, Tunisia.
Sourour Ayed
University of Carthage, Laboratory of Field Crop, National Agricultural Research Institute of Tunisia, Hedi Karray Street,2049 Ariana, Tunisia.
Lassaad Mdellel
University of Jendouba, Laboratory of Physiology of Cereal Production, Agriculture High Graduate School of Kef, Boulifa, 7100 Le Kef, Tunisia.
Abdelkarim Chiab
University of Jendouba, Laboratory of Physiology of Cereal Production, Agriculture High Graduate School of Kef, Boulifa, 7100 Le Kef, Tunisia.
Faysal Ben Jeddi
Laboratory of Horticultural Sciences, LR13AGR01, Carthage University, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, 43 Ave Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Mahrajène, Tunisia.
Moncef Ben- Hammouda
University of Jendouba, Laboratory of Physiology of Cereal Production, Agriculture High Graduate School of Kef, Boulifa, 7100 Le Kef, Tunisia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
One of the proposed solutions to face climate change impact and to maintain food production sustainability is conservation agriculture. This study tries to determinate the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) on secondary metabolites such as total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antioxidants capacity (DPPH %) in relation to natural mycorrhization of durum wheat during the tillering stage for three cultivation years. The experiment was conducted in a referential farm (Krib, Siliana, North West Tunisia). The results showed that TPC, TFC and DPPH% were not influenced by tillage system (T). However, cultivation year (Y) had a significant effect on the studied parameters independently of tillage system. In addition, for the first cultivation year, tillage system (T) had significantly influenced the mycorrhization rate (MR%) and NT presented the highest mycorrhization rate (24%). DPPH% showed high significant positive correlations with MR% and TPC. For partial correlation based on Tillage system, high positive correlations were noted between DPPH%, MR% and TPC. Considering the partial correlation based on cultivation year, only a significant positive correlation between TPC and TFC was observed. In conclusion, durum wheat quality was not affected by tillage system and there are not reasons against no tillage adoption in this region for a sustainable wheat production.
Keywords: Tillage system, cultivation year, durum wheat, secondary metabolites, antioxidants capacity.