Modeling the grain yield loss and quality assessment of some durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes under semi-arid conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Experimental Station for Field Crops ITGC in Setif -Algeria during the growing season (2020-2021), to evaluate the parameters of the technological quality efficiency of three durum wheat genotypes {Boussellam (BOS), Oued El Bared (OB), and GTA dur (GTA)} and the efficiency of using mathematical models based on the relation between grain moisture in the field and grain yield to estimate grain yield loss caused by the delayed harvest according to the randomized blocks design with three replications. Results demonstrated that the genotype effects were significant for all technological parameters, the protein content varied from 13.70 to 15.4%; the highest content of protein registered by (OB) was 15.4%. In addition, the values of test weight varied between 79.47 and 81.97 kg hL-1, with a general mean of 80.96 kg hL-1. The study of correlations test showed that there was a significant and positive correlation between the decreased grain moisture in the field and the loss in final grain yield, which suggests that the final grain yield decreases as the grain moisture decreases. This loss can be predicted using a mathematical regression model. The statistical analysis revealed the best agreement between measured and simulated grain yield, with low average absolute error and root mean square error. The grain yield was also well simulated with the observed yield giving a coefficient of efficiency (E) of 0.76, i.e., with a simulation capacity of 76%. Overall, and after the physiological maturity of the grains the mathematical model proved that with the 1% loss of grain moisture, there is a loss of about 0.290 t ha-1 of grain yield.