Yield and Nutrient Content of Spring Wheat Subjected to Water Stress at Various Growth Stages

Abstract

Abstract Yield and nutrient content of spring barley as affected by water stress at various growth stages have been studied in lysimeter experiments. The grain yield was reduced when subjecting the crop to water stress at any stage of development. Temporary water stress which was terminated before heading developed late tillers. They appeared after heading had ceased and ripened 2 weeks later than normal tillers. When grain yield from normal tillers only was considered the largest yield reduction occurred when water stress occurred during vegetative growth. Including grain from late tillers the largest yield reduction occurred when water stress occurred during the booting-heading period. Water stress occurring in growth stages prior to heading resulted in increased percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium in the grain whereas the percentages of calcium, potassium and sodium were unaffected. Water stress in growth stages later than heading resulted in reduced percentage of nitrogen in the grain, wh...