@article{fdi:010049560,
  title = {{W}heat production in {T}unisia : progress, inter-annual variability and relation to rainfall},
  author = {{L}atiri, {K}. and {L}homme, {J}ean-{P}aul and {A}nnabi, {M}. and {S}etter, {T}. {L}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}uring the second half of the last century, average wheat yields have increased in most parts of the world, including in areas subject to drought. {A}s a case study of factors affecting yield in drought-prone areas, we have studied durum wheat yields and their relation to rainfall in {T}unisia, where from north to south there is a gradient in severity and frequency of drought. {T}he mid 1960s delimited two periods: from the early 1900s to the 60s the rate of increase was rather low; after the 60s yields increased at a higher rate. {H}owever, yields were quite variable and extremely low in dry years. {R}ecently the rate of yield increase has been slowing clown. {I}n northern {T}unisia, yield was highly correlated with autumn rainfall, indicating the importance of the early growth stages, whereas variation in the extent of terminal drought was poorly correlated with yield. {I}n the centre and south, where drought occurs frequently, the area sown was highly variable, because farmers often cancel sowing if the first significant autumn rainfalls do not occur. {W}heat production was also diminished through a reduction of harvested areas with respect to sown areas, a consequence of severe drought and crop failure. {W}ater use efficiency (yield/growing season rainfall) was stable for durum wheat in northern {T}unisia until the late 60s and since then has significantly increased. {G}iven the identified sensitivities to drought, the main factors limiting wheat yield are discussed and analysed in order to give way to more genetic and crop management progress.},
  keywords = {{W}heat ; {Y}ield ; {R}ainfall ; {D}rought ; {T}unisia ; {T}rend},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}uropean {J}ournal of {A}gronomy},
  volume = {33},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {33--42},
  ISSN = {1161-0301},
  year = {2010},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.eja.2010.02.004},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010049560},
}