Crop productivity under dryland conditions is largely limited by soil water
availability. Soil organic matter (SOM) contents have been found to be a r
eliable index of crop productivity in semiarid regions because if positivel
y affects soil water-holding capacity, Our objectives were to explain diffe
rences in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in response to SOM levels and
related properties and to quantify the contribution of a unit increment of
SOM content to soil productivity during 1991, 1992, and 1994 on a total of
134 production fields in the semiarid Argentine Pampas, Wheat yields were
related to both soil water retention and total organic C (TOC) contents in
the top layers (0-20 cm) in years with low moisture availability (1992 [r =
0.51, P < 0.01] and 1994 [r = 0.59, P < 0.01]), and mere related to both f
etal N and available P contents in a year without water deficit stress (199
1 [r = 0.58, P < 0.01]), Wheat yields over all years were linearly related
to TOC (r = 0.68, P < 0.01) when these contents were <175 g kg(-1). Depende
nce of wheal yields on soil water retention and on TOC contents under water
deficit was related to. the positive effect of these soil components on pl
ant-available water. In the absence of water deficit (1991), nutrient avail
ability was the limiting factor, Losses of 1 Mg SOM ha(-1) were associated
with a decrease in wheat yield of approximately 40 kg ha(-1) These results
demonstrate the importance of using cultural practices that minimize losses
of soil organic C in the semiarid Argentine Pampas.