Effects of tillage management on productivity of wheat and chickpea under cold, rainfed conditions in western Iran

• The yield performance of chickpea under the no-tillage system was less than conventional tillage system.
• Reduced tillage system improved the crop productivity in wheat and chickpea relative to no-tillage and conventional tillage systems.
• The yield performance of wheat under the no-tillage system was less than conventional tillage system.
• Volumetric soil moisture was increased in no-tillage and reduced tillage systems as compared to conventional tillage.
• Adoption may be improved through research to determine the appropriate level of application of reduced tillage in the different regions.

In order to investigate the effect of different tillage systems (i.e. conventional tillage, reduced tillage and no-tillage systems), on yield performance and yield components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) crops, three experiments were conducted under cold rainfed conditions of Kermanshah province in west of Iran from 2012 to 2014. Results revealed that under reduced tillage, yield of wheat was 5.8 and 11.2% higher than conventional tillage in 2013 and 2014, respectively. However, the yield performance of chickpea and wheat crops in the no-tillage treatment were less than conventional tillage system. Increase in volumetric soil moisture (221, 196 and 258% from 2012 to 2014, respectively) in no-tillage treatment, was observed as compared to conventional tillage. Similarly in reduced tillage treatment, volumetric soil moisture content was 175, 163 and 209% higher than the conventional tillage during 2012–2014. The yield performance of chickpea in the reduced tillage treatment was 9.0, 8.6 12.7% higher than conventional tillage across three years, respectively. Although most of the measured traits of wheat and chickpea improved by reduced tillage, there was not considerable difference between no-tillage and conventional tillage. Findings indicated that yield of wheat and chickpea were significantly responsive to tillage systems and the reduced tillage treatment was the most efficient soil management practices for obtaining more yield as well as conservation soil and water resources for rainfed agriculture in Mediterranean climates.