Abstract
To evaluate the effect of water stress at different crop growth stages on yield, yield components and water use efficiency, a field experiment was carried out in 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 for bread wheat (Gambo variety) at Werer Agricultural Research Center. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications having 15 experimental treatments. Combination of water stress with crop growth stages was applied in the major investigation of the experiment. The highest grain yield was obtained from the control treatment irrigation at all stages (no stress). Stressing irrigation water at initial stages and maturity stages gave second highest yield (29.23 and 28.57 qt/ha) and lower water use efficiency (0.43 and 0.35 kg/m3) respectively. While irrigating only at the initial stage gave highest water use efficiency (0.79 kg/m3) and lowest grain yield. Application of irrigation water at all stages except initial and maturity gives optimum grain yield (26.73 qt/ha) and water use efficiency (0.62 kg/m3) for the study area. Therefore, wheat should not be stressed at development and mid stage to obtain optimum water use efficiency (WUE) without a significant grain yield reduction. Key words: Grain yield, growth stages, water use efficiency, irrigation.  
Highlights
Agricultural sector plays a major role in poverty reduction for sub-Saharan African countries; almost half of its population currently remains under poverty line (World Bank, 2016)
The agriculture sector is the determinant of economic growth and an activity of essential importance in social development, being the largest sector that contributes to almost two third of employment and gross national income of these nation
Among scarce natural resource water is mainly used by irrigated agriculture
Summary
Agricultural sector plays a major role in poverty reduction for sub-Saharan African countries; almost half of its population currently remains under poverty line (World Bank, 2016). Of the total water withdrawals 70% and more than 60 to 80% of total water consumptive use is utilized by irrigation (Huffaker and Hamilton, 2007). By 2025, the irrigated land should have to increase by more than 20% and the irrigated crop yield should be increased by 40% to secure food for about 8 billion people (Lascano and Sojka, 2007). Considering this fact, the productivity of agricultural water is highly demanding investigation to gain experience in improving performance, efficiency and profitability of utilized water for irrigation (Sleper et al, 2007)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
