A 43-year experiment in Mediterranean rainfed conditions compared 26 wheat-based cropping systems.
Burial of crop residues increased yield (+3.7% on average), OC (+13.8%) and N content (+9.4%) in soil.
Wheat in two-year rotations yielded more than in continuous cropping (+19.4% on average).
Rotations heavily based on wheat were the most efficient in terms of carbon sequestration in soil.
Buried biomass after 43 years was higher than 175 t ha−1 (+ 16 t ha−1 organic matter content in soil).