EFFECT OF ZERO-TILLAGE AND HYBRID FARMING SYSTEMS ON WHEAT GROWTH, YIELD, AND SOIL PROPERTIES UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN AL-ANBAR, IRAQ

• Ibrahim Sahar Ibrahim

  Modern Irrigation Technologies Project, Ministry of Agriculture, Iraq

  Author

• Osama Abbas M. Elnewiry

  Faculty of Engineering, Al Jazeera University, Sudan

  Author

• Abdulrazzak Abdullatif Jasim

  Dept. of Agricultural Machinery and Equipment, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Iraq

  Author

Rapid population growth in arid and semi-arid regions, combined with limited water resources, has intensified the demand for efficient and sustainable wheat production. A field experiment was conducted during the 2023–2024 growing season in a farmer’s field in Al-Anbar Governorate, Iraq (33°20′ N, 43°40′ E, 50 m a.s.l.) to evaluate the effects of three irrigation systems (sprinkler, drip, and surface), three tillage methods (disc, chisel, and broadcaster), and three seed rates (30, 40, 50 kg/ha) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth, yield, soil physical properties, and irrigation efficiency. Results indicated that plant height responded significantly to irrigation and tillage, with the sprinkler–chisel combination producing the tallest plants. Grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index remained stable across treatments, suggesting management flexibility. Soil porosity improved under sprinkler irrigation and chisel tillage, while penetration resistance was not significantly affected. Sprinkler efficiency increased with operating pressure, whereas drip irrigation achieved optimal efficiency at ~100 kPa. Vegetative growth was more sensitive to management practices than yield components. Chisel tillage enhanced soil porosity without increasing compaction, and efficient irrigation management improved water use efficiency. These findings support the adoption of sprinkler irrigation with chisel tillage in semi-arid regions to improve plant growth and soil structure, while managing drip irrigation at moderate pressure (~100 kPa) to optimize water conservation.

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