Wheat germplasm for direct sowing

Sustainable intensification Strategy 1. Farms Technological Adaptative Agronomic Practices 2001 Closed

Code:

FTG/RF-0104-RG1/01

Initiative:

Call for Proposals

FONTAGRO Amount:

USD 80.000

Counterpart Amount:

USD 80.000

Execution time

36 Months

Total Amount:

USD 220.000

Participating countries:

Mexico

Argentina

Chile

Paraguay

Uruguay

Funding source:

FONTAGRO Amount 36% Other agencies 27% Counterpart Amount 36%

Executive Summary

The yield of five cultivars per country under zero tillage and conventional tillage was compared. The planting method had a differentiated effect, within the conditions of each locality, causing different production levels. In general, there was a trend towards higher yields under zero tillage compared to conventional tillage, with the former likely to improve soil moisture use efficiency. No effects of genotype * tillage interaction were observed. Cultivars had a differential behaviour between regions, yielding more in their localities of origin although some yielded well in different localities. An average of the 20 genotypes tested was determined to have three production levels: high in Chile, intermediate in Uruguay and low in Argentina and Paraguay. Chlorophyll measurements (Spad Meter) showed that the planting method does not affect plant coloration, which seems to be associated with the genotype. There were no differences in germination and emergence between the planting methods. Small differences in vigour at tillering were associated with the varieties and not with the seeding method. The results suggest that the germplasm present in the Southern Cone breeding programs is well adapted to the zero tillage sowing system, obtaining slightly higher yields with this system, compared to traditional tillage, highlighting some varieties that yielded up to 20-30% more.

The technological solution

The technological solution generated by the project is the direct sowing, without tillage, of wheat varieties in different agro-ecological environments. The productive sector is that of wheat producers in the Southern Cone. The benefits of the technology seem to be a slightly higher productivity than that generated by conventional tillage, reduced establishment costs and greater soil conservation.

Results

The project has generated information on the effect of sowing systems (zero tillage compared to conventional tillage) on the productivity of twenty varieties of wheat commonly used in the region. Although the experiments were short term and need to be repeated to analyze the effect of years, the results show that zero tillage can be a good technological alternative for wheat production systems since the response to the direct seeding method was positive in the different environments where the project was carried out. It is important to mention that the project has strengthened agricultural research and scientific exchange in the region and has laid the foundations for the formation of a regional research network.

Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries are research institutions in the countries participating in the project that now have more information about the productive potential of a significant number of wheat varieties, under different sowing systems and in different agro-ecological environments.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Participating Organizations

Executor

Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trio (CIMMYT) - México

Associated

AAPRESID - Argentina
DIA - MAG - Paraguay
Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) - Chile
Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA) - Uruguay
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Argentina