Water conservation in wheat rotations under several management and tillage systems in semiarid areas

Water conservation impact on wheat yield was evaluated during four years of study in semi-arid areas of Morocco.; The absence of any data on water availability to the crop in a continuous cropping system compared to wheat after fallow led to this research. The ability of the soils to store water during fallow and stored water effectiveness on yield was studied.; No-tillage management yielded more in continuous wheat and wheat after fallow. In a very dry year, grain yield in a no-tillage system was 100% and 72% higher than the conventional management and fall chisel plowing, respectively in continuous and wheat after fallow.; In areas averaging 240 to 300 mm annual rainfall, wheat after fallow used water as efficiently as continuous wheat. No-till management and no soil disturbance in the dry period after harvest was a requirement for successful fallow.