Effects of conventional and conservation tillage with management residue on wheat (Triticum aestivum L) physiological properties

In order to study the effects of conventional and conservation tillage with management residue on wheat physiological properties, a field experiment was conducted in 2013-2014 at Mashhad Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Razavi Khorasan province. This experiment was carried out as split plot design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Main plots included tillage systems: 1) conventional tillage, 2) reduced tillage and 3) no tillage; subplots were management residue: 1) 0%, 2) 30% and 3) 60% residue. The results showed that tillage systems had significant effect on relative water content (RWC), the difference between canopy temperature and air temperature (∆t), SPAD reading, Flag leaf area (FLA), Leaf water potential (ΨW) and Radiation interception (RI). The highest RWC (83%), ∆t (-7.36 cº), SPAD (47.35), FLA (26.3 cm2), ΨW (-11.19 bar) and RI (90.22%) were detected in no-tillage method. Residue management had significantly different on RWC, ∆t and RI traits, but no significant effect on SPAD reading, Flag leaf area (FLA), leaf water potential (ΨW) was detected. The highest grain yields were obtained under no-till (6912.2 kg/ha) and 60% residue treatment (6980.8 kg/ha). It is concluded that conservation tillage with more aboveground residue could improve wheat yield and some of physiological properties (RWC, ∆t, SPAD reading, FLA, ΨW and RI).