Adaptation to Climate Change of the Mediterranean Agricultural Systems – ACLIMAS

Low and variable wheat yields due to frequent droughts have been a major challenge for farmers in sustaining their crops and ensuring a return. Adapted crop production packages are critical to ensure resilience in the wake of adverse weather conditions.

Studying the effects of water regime, nitrogen rate and variety on durum and bread wheat in detailed and demonstration trials. Specifically, a) Detailed trials Water regime: two water regimes: Rainfed (R) and supplemental irrigation (SI) Nitrogen fertilizer: three rates of nitrogen: N0 = 0 kg N/ha, N1 = 60 kg N/ha and N2 = 120 kg N/ha Variety: four varieties from each wheat species, Bousselem, Semeto, GTA DUR and Amar 6 for durum wheat and Ain Abid, ARZ, Maaouna and Wifak for bread wheat. b) Demonstration trials three levels of water regimes (100% of supplemental irrigation or SI, 50% of SI and rainfed); two nitrogen levels (Farmer and ITGC recommendation); and three varieties per site.

In the context of climate change, increasing water scarcity, and desertification risk in the semi-arid region of Algeria, and through the determination of the best combination of water regime, nitrogen fertilization rates and wheat variety for the sustainable intensification of wheat, scientists were able to disseminate wheat production packages to farmers to bring a durable improvement to agricultural water management and eventually broader economic development and resilience to climate change.