Improving nutrient management knowledge in rainfed wheat cropping system of Algeria

This project was initiated in 2014 to develop a Nutrient Expert® (NE) fertilizer decision support tool for Algerian farmers and extension specialists to help them implement appropriate nutrient management practices for wheat production in rain-fed areas. Eight nutrient omission trials were established in the region of TiareIn, located in the northwest of Algeria, in the 2015/2016 cropping season. Each on-farm experimental plot was planted with bread wheat (BW) and durum wheat (DW) with seven nutrient treatments: optimum treatment (OPT) (140 kg N + 60 Kg P₂O₅ + 72 kg K₂O/ha for BW and 120 kg N + 48 kg P₂O₅ + 68 kg K₂O/ha for DW), nitrogen (N) omission from OPT, phosphorus (P) omission from OPT, potassium (K) omission from OPT, control (without fertilizers), site-specific nutrient management (SSNM, based on NE recommendation) and farmer fertilizer practice (FFP). The sowing date was from November 2 to 18, 2015. The cumulated rainfall in 2015-16 cropping season was 392 mm, which was less than the average cumulated rainfall in the region (550 mm).

The average grain yield of DW and BW were 3.3 t/ha and 3.7 t/ha, respectively. When no fertilizer was applied, grain yields were reduced by 27% and 18% for BW and DW, respectively. The omission of P had no significant effect on grain yield of DW, however, omitted N and K reduced the grain yield of DW by 24% and 10% respectively. In BW, the omission of K had no significant effect on the grain yield, however omitted N and P reduced the grain yield by 18% and 10% respectively. The grain yield in the FFP treatment for both BW and DW was on average 47% less than the OPT. Fertilizers recommendations according to SSNM increased the average grain yield of wheat by 41% compared to FFP. The project will continue in the next cropping season.