What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to assess the effects of zero tillage and sowing dates on cold stress tolerance and yield in wheat cultivars.

March 7, 2026Open Access

Zero tillage enhances cold stress tolerance and yield stability in dryland wheat

Key Points

The aim is to assess the effects of zero tillage and sowing dates on cold stress tolerance and yield in wheat cultivars.
Conducted cold−room assays to evaluate stress responses
Performed a two−year split–split plot field trial
Analyzed PSII performance and antioxidant activity in response to treatments
Zero tillage and early sowing improved PSII performance metrics
Increased antioxidant activity correlates with higher grain yields
Winter cultivars showed better stress resilience compared to spring types

Abstract

Cold stress limits rainfed wheat productivity. We combined a cold−room assay (+4 → −15 °C) with a two−year split–split plot field trial to test whether zero tillage (ZT) and sowing date improve cold tolerance across bread and durum cultivars. ZT, especially with September sowing, enhanced PSII performance (higher ETo/RC, Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo; lower ABS/RC and Fo/Fm), increased antioxidant activity (SOD, APX, CAT), and reduced H 2 O 2 and MDA, leading to higher and more stable grain yield. Winter cultivars sustained pigments and antioxidant defense better than spring types. These results position ZT + early sowing as a practical, climate−smart strategy to buffer cold stress and stabilize yields in drylands.

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Cite This Study

Salmasi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69abc0b85af8044f7a4e960d https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2026.1771067

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