The research was carried out in 9 sites (1999-2001) of an inner area of Sicily different for soil type, slope, exposure and preceding crop. The treatments were: Conventional tillage and sowing at conventional time (CT); No tillage and sowing at conventional time (NTc); and no tillage and early sowing (NTe). In 2000-01 the effects of three nitrogen fertilization treatments (single application at planting, P, and split dressing at two different rates, S and S+) were also evaluated. No tillage systems significantly increased grain yield compared to CT treatment; no differences were observed between the two sowing dates. The productive benefits of no tillage were associated with a decrease of grain protein content that was heavier with early sowing. Regarding N fertilization treatments, S compared with P allowed a significant yield increase; no interaction with tillage technique was found. At the lowest fertilizer rate, split fertilization allowed a significant increase of grain protein content only in NTe.