Etudiant : AHAGUIRI OMAR

Filière : Master Ecologie et Préservation de l’Environnement pour un Développement Durable (EP2ED)

Encadrant : Pr. GUEMMOUH RAJA

Annèe : 2025

Résumé : This study investigates the ecological and agronomic performance of wheat cropping systems in the arid province of Rhamna, Morocco. The region faces numerous agricultural challenges, including low and erratic rainfall, high temperatures, and poor soil fertility, all exacerbated by climate change. The objective was to evaluate the combined effects of nitrogen fertilization and a natural plant-based bio-stimulant (Manda Fermented Botanical Product) on wheat growth, physiology, and yield components under field conditions. A factorial field experiment was designed with varying levels of nitrogen input and bio-stimulant application (with or without soil drenching). Parameters measured included chlorophyll content, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), stomatal conductance, nitrogen concentration, biomass accumulation, and grain yield. The results showed no statistically significant differences in yield among treatments. However, some treatment combinations, especially those involving the bio-stimulant with moderate nitrogen input, improved physiological performance, such as chlorophyll concentration and nitrogen uptake. Correlation analysis revealed positive relationships between chlorophyll content, biomass, plant height, and nitrogen levels, suggesting that these traits could serve as reliable indicators of plant health and productivity. Furthermore, while increased yield was not consistently observed, treatments did enhance photosynthetic efficiency which is an indicator of nitrogen use efficiency. These findings highlight the potential of integrating natural bio-stimulants and optimized N fertilization to support sustainable wheat production in arid zones. The study underscores the importance of adopting resilient agricultural practices that improve plant performance under climate stress, without relying solely on conventional inputs. Such strategies are vital for maintaining food security in the arid regions like Rhamna Province, Morocc Keywords: Wheat cultivation; Arid agriculture; Nitrogen fertilization; Biostimulants; Manda Fermented Botanical Product; Sustainable farming; Plant physiology; Chlorophyll content; Nitrogen use efficiency; Rhamna Morocco; Climate resilience.