CONTROL OF SUPPLEMENTARY IRRIGATION AND WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR DURUM WHEAT IN THE F’KIRINA PLAIN

Two regimes of water, rainfed and irrigated with respect to rainfall and the stages of cultivation were applied on two varieties: Gta-Dur and Vitron. The period (2014-2016) was characterized by a large variability in the distribution of rainfall amounts. Precipitation recorded between December 2014 and May 2015 totaled 232 mm, while precipitation was very low in the second year (2015-2016) when precipitation amounted to 173 mm. Rainfed grain yields range from 9 quintals per hectare in 2014 to 12 the two varieties are considered less productive in rainfed, their yield remains lower than 20 quintals per hectare but presents a better stability, they are less affected by early drought. The use of water must be maximized in the form of transpiration optimize production. Therefore, reducing the evaporation and simultaneously improving water storage or holding capacity and also controlling weeds are the key-procedures in order to improve the CWP by the plant. Thus, optimizing the productivity of water in rainfed crops and improving cereal yield in cropping systems with limited water requires the maximization of precipitation for transpiration by reducing losses of soil water. Keywords: Durum wheat; supplementary irrigation, varieties; semi-arid, yield components, water productivity