Sustaining Yield of Winter Wheat under Alternate Irrigation Using Saline Water at Different Growth Stages: A Case Study in the North China Plain

Rajesh Kumar Soothar,Li Li,Daozhi Gong,Wenying Zhang,Chao Wang,Huanli Xing,Binhui Liu,Yaosheng Wang,Moussa Tankari

doi:10.3390/su11174564

Abstract

Brackish water used for irrigation can restrict crop growth and lead to environmental problems. The alternate irrigation with saline water at different growth stages is still not well understood. Therefore, field trials were conducted during 2015–2018 in the NCP to investigate whether alternate irrigation is practicable for winter wheat production. The treatments comprised rain-fed cultivation (NI), fresh and saline water irrigation (FS), saline and fresh water irrigation (SF), saline water irrigation (SS) and fresh water irrigation (FF). The results showed that the grain yield was increased by 20% under SF and FS treatments compared to NI, while a minor decrease of 2% in grain yield was observed compared with FF treatment. The increased soil salinity and risk of long-term salt accumulation in the soil due to alternate irrigation during peak dry periods was insignificant due to leaching of salts from crop root zone during monsoon season. Although Na+ concentration in the leaves increased with saline irrigation, resulting in significantly lower K+:Na+ ratio in the leaves, the Na+ and K+ concentrations in the roots and grains were not affected. In conclusion, the alternate irrigation for winter wheat is a most promising option to harvest more yield and save fresh water resources.

Highlights

Groundwater poses a continuous threat to sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in the North China Plain (NCP)
The results revealed that in the NCP where winter wheat is sown depends upon climate conditions
Alternate saline water at 4.7 dS m−1 can be applied at stem elongation stage and flowering stage (FS and Saline andNfIresh water irrigatFioSn (SF)) without any negative impact on grain yield and Na+ and K+ concentrations in the grains compared to other irrigation practices, such as FF

Summary

Introduction

Groundwater poses a continuous threat to sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in the North China Plain (NCP). This plain generates about one-third of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in agriculture, and limited quantities of fresh water contribute a significant share in agricultural production [1,2], there is an urgent need to use this water resource more judiciously. Kafi et al [23], Naresh et al [24], Malash et al [25] and Hassanli and Ebrahimian [15], suggested that to counter-down the effect of saline water irrigation on crop yield and salt accumulation in soil profile, irrigation strategies should be adopted. The indirect evidence favors alternate use of saline water [26], the alternate saline and fresh water irrigation strategies at different growth stages still needs further investigation such as in the North China Plain (NCP)

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion