Water Use Efficiency Of Winter Wheat Research Articles

Optimizing drip irrigation to enhance winter wheat performance: yield, economic benefits, and water use efficiency

ABSTRACT Drip irrigation is beneficial for improving crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE); however, it is rarely used for winter wheat production in semi-humid and drought-prone areas. To evaluate the optimal drip irrigation amount, a 4-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of applying different water amounts (RF: rainfed; DI1, DI2, and DI3: 60, 120, and 180 mm of drip irrigation; FI3: 180 mm of traditional flood irrigation) on available soil water storage (ASWS), agronomic and physiological characteristics, yield, net income, and WUE of winter wheat in the Guanzhong Plain of China. The results showed that DI2 treatment performed the best among five treatments, which was attributed to the improvement of ASWS consumption in the 1–2 m soil layer, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate. The four-year average grain yield, net income, and WUE of DI2-treated winter wheat increased by 15.4%, 18.4%, and 25.5%, respectively, compared with FI3. Regression analysis indicated the optimal drip irrigation amounts were 163 and 137 mm in dry and normal years, respectively, and can be considered as a guideline for economical irrigation strategy for winter wheat production in semi-humid and drought-prone areas.

Effects of Deficit-Regulated Irrigation on Root-Growth Dynamics and Water-Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat in a Semi-Arid Area

Water management is critical for wheat production under extreme drought conditions, and the mechanisms by which root dynamics and soil water utilization affect wheat yield are uncertain. This study was conducted in 2023–2024 under a mesophilic semi-arid climate with a two-factor partitioned experimental design, aiming to assess the response of different irrigation amounts in winter wheat crops on root growth and development, soil water utilization, and yields in different soil horizons. The results showed that variety and irrigation volume had significant effects on the spatial and temporal distribution of root and yield components, with irrigation volume having the greatest effect on yield. Compared with CK, deficit-regulated irrigation significantly promoted root penetration to deeper layers and delayed root senescence. DRWD, RLD, RSA, and RV decreased gradually with increasing soil depth, and the peaks of RLD, RSA, and RV appeared at the tassel to flowering stage, respectively; and under deficit-regulated irrigation, the contribution of the A2W4 treatment to stable yield was greater. Therefore, A2W4 is an effective water-saving irrigation method to improve grain yield and water-use efficiency under deficit-regulated irrigation.

Spatial–temporal variation of climate and its impact on winter wheat production in Guanzhong Plain, China

Understanding the response mechanism winter wheat growth in response to climate change is critical for winter wheat production and field management. Therefore, in this study, we employed relative contribution and path analysis along with a crop model and remote sensing data to investigate to the effect of climate on winter wheat production for the 2009–2019 period in China’s Guanzhong Plain (GZP). We registered three key findings. First, winter wheat yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were increasing in the central-south and eastern GZP and were decreasing in the central-north and western GZP. Average temperature (Tavg) influenced winter wheat production by shorting vegetative and reproductive stage. Net solar radiation (Rn) and sunshine hours (Ssh) affected winter wheat production by altering irrigation requirements (IRs), and precipitation (P) had a strong correlation with yield and WUE despite a limited contribution. Second, climatic factors were not independent, and they affected each other; Tavg and P mainly affected winter wheat production through Rn and Ssh. Finally, approximately 90% of the variation in yield and WUE of winter wheat could be explained by IRs and phenology, the yield and WUE decreased with an increase in IRs, and the prolongation of the reproductive stage exerted a positive effect on winter wheat production and effectively offset the negative effect of the shortening of the vegetative stage. This means that the adoption of long-lasting winter wheat varieties and high irrigation levels in a changing climate benefit winter wheat production and may be a viable strategy for adaptation to climate change. The results provide potentially valuable information for alleviating the impact of climate change on winter wheat production and improving the planting management of winter wheat in the GZP.

Magnetization and oxidation of irrigation water to improve winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production and water-use efficiency

Achieving optimal grain yield (GY) and water-use efficiency (WUE) is important for the sustainable development of wheat production. We evaluated the effects of different irrigation regimes on root vigor, root distribution, soil water , crop water productivity, GY, and WUE of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L . ) on the Guanzhong Plain of the Yellow River Basin. Laboratory experiments on the hydroponic cultivation of winter wheat comprised control (CK-G, CK-B), magnetization (GM, BM) and oxidation (GO, BO) groups of groundwater and brackish water. Field experiments on the growth of winter wheat included control (IG), magnetization (IGM) and oxidation (IGO) groups of groundwater irrigation. Three irrigation levels, 60, 120 and 180 mm, were used for each treatment (IGM60, IGM120 and IGM180, and IGO60, IGO120 and IGO180, respectively). Under GM and GO regimes, the surface tension and viscosity coefficient of magnetized and oxidized water decreased compared with CK-G, for up to10 hours and 8 h, respectively. The root vigor in winter wheat was 526 and 925 µg g −1 h −1 after GM and GO treatment, respectively, which was 101% and 253% higher than CK-G. Under IGM120 and IGO120 regimes, root length density at a soil depth of 0–20 cm increased by 23% and 24%, respectively, compared with IG, while the proportion of root surface area density at a depth of 20–60 cm changed by 105% and 89%. GY (11.68 ×10 3 kg ha −1 and 10.72 ×10 3 kg ha −1 ) and WUE (27.74 kg ha −1 mm −1 and 26.08 kg ha −1 mm −1 ) increased by 21% and 11%, and 21% and 14%, respectively. Between the greening and maturity growth stages, the available soil water storage in the 100–200 cm soil layer decreased by 68, 82 and 72 mm under the IG, IGM120 and IGO120 regimes, respectively. Fitted relationships between irrigation level and grain yield and the WUE indicated that 96 mm magnetized water irrigation was optimal for conserving water and increasing the efficiency of wheat irrigation on the Guanzhong Plain. • Magnetized or oxidized water irrigation enhanced wheat grain yield and water use. • The wheat root was improved after irrigation with magnetized or oxidized water. • The optimum irrigation level for wheat on the Guanzhong Plain was 96 mm.

Does actual cropland water consumption change with evaporation potential in the Lower Yellow River?

The North China Plain (NCP) is one of the most important regions for food production in China; however, the typical winter wheat–summer maize cropping system has created a continuous decline in groundwater levels, triggering serious ecological problems. Additionally, changes in the evaporation potential in the NCP have altered from decreasing to sharply increasing. Therefore, it is critical to understand the actual cropland water consumption (i.e., the actual evapotranspiration, AET) and crop water use efficiency (WUE) under this new trend. This understanding is significant for agricultural water management in the NCP. This study investigated the historical AET and WUE trends for the winter wheat–summer maize cropping system during 1992–2014. This investigation was based on a long-term AET dataset obtained using a large lysimeter from 1992 to 2014 at the Yucheng Comprehensive Experiment Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences near the Lower Yellow River. The results showed that annual AET decreased pre-2008 and rebounded post-2008. The rebound rate of annual AET from 2008 to 2014 was more than three times the annual decrease rate of AET from 1992 to 2008. The significant increase in summer maize AET mainly contributed to the rebound of the annual AET after 2008. Following the changes in AET and crop yield, the annual WUE had evidently increased for 1992–2008 and sharply decreased from 2008 to 2014. The significant decrease in winter wheat WUE mainly contributed to the annual decrease in WUE post-2008. Climate change, agricultural management, and crop yields were observed to regulate the changes in AET and WUE. In the context of accelerating climate change and the increased frequency of extreme climatic events, strategies to improve WUE by the Lower Yellow River have been proposed, which may also be helpful in the NCP and similar regions worldwide. • Observed rebound change of annual cropland water consumption. • Rebound of annual cropland water consumption post-2008 mainly caused by summer maize. • Decrease in annual water use efficiency post-2008 mainly caused by winter wheat.

Effect of Pre-Anthesis Drought Hardening on Post-Anthesis Physiological Characteristics, Yield and WUE in Winter Wheat

A drought event can cause yield loss or entire crops to fail. In order to study the effects of continuous drought on physiological characteristics, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the variety “Zhoumai 22” was grown in controlled water conditions of the pot-planted winter wheat under a mobile rainout shelter. Foot planting and safe wintering were used to evaluate, winter wheat under different drought conditions, including light, moderate and severe drought at the jointing, heading, and filling stages. The soil water content was controlled at 60–70%, 50–60%, or 40–50% of field capacity. Experimental trials included 3 pre-anthesis drought hardening, 3 three-stage continuous drought, and 1 test control conditions. Under drought stress conditions, winter wheat leaf water potential, soil plant analysis development (SPAD), photosynthesis parameters, and yield declined due to pre-anthesis drought hardening. And the degree of decline: continuous drought > pre-anthesis drought hardening. Changes in the post-anthesis photosynthetic capacity of winter wheat were mainly related to the pre-anthesis drought level, rather than post-anthesis rehydration. The threshold of non-stomata limiting factors caused by photosynthesis at the filling stage is 40–50%FC, while comprehensive yield and WUE affected, the yield in severe drought treatments was the most significant, B3C3 and B3C3G3 decreased by 55.68% and 55.88%, respectively. Pre-anthesis drought was the main reason for the decreased crop yield. Thus, severe drought should be avoided during planting, while pre-anthesis light drought is a suitable choice for water-saving and crop production, as proper pre-anthesis drought hardening (60–70% FC) is feasible and effective.

Responses of grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat to tillage in the North China Plain

Abstract Water shortage is a known limiting factor in sustainable wheat production in the North China Plain (NCP). Conservation tillage has the potential to maximize soil water efficiency, and also influence crop growth. The distribution of crop roots plays a vital role in determining water consumption and yield production. A 10-year field experiment was established to study the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and root distribution characteristics and determine grain yield, as well as water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat in response to tillage. Three representative tillage practices, no-till (NT), conventional tillage (CT), and rotary tillage (RT) were used. The results indicated that RT increased the spatial and temporal root distribution, enhanced photosynthetic activities at the flowering stage, and achieved higher average grain yield by 12.0 % and 6.7 % from 2008 to 2019 as compared with NT and CT, respectively (P

An Ammoniated Straw Incorporation Increased Biomass Production and Water Use Efficiency in an Annual Wheat-Maize Rotation System in Semi-Arid China

Water shortage and excessive chemical fertilizers application result in low soil water and nutrient availability and limit crop production in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Ammoniated straw incorporation with N fertilization may be an efficient strategy to maintain agricultural sustainability. However, the interactive effects of straw incorporation and N fertilizer on the biomass water use efficiency (WUE) in the winter wheat–summer maize rotation system remain unclear. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of combining ammoniated straw incorporation and N fertilizer on soil water, biomass yield and biomass water use efficiency (WUE) in an annual summer maize (Zea mays L.)—Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation system. There were three treatments: (i) long straw (5 cm) mulching with N fertilizer (CK), (ii) long straw with N fertilizer plowed into the soil (LP), and (iii) ammoniated long straw with N fertilizer plowed into the soil (ALP). Compared with the CK treatment, LP and ALP led to a similar soil water storage capacity. ALP improved summer maize biomass yield and winter wheat biomass yield at the jointing-maturity stage. ALP improved summer maize WUE at the ten-leaf collar-tasseling stage and winter wheat WUE from the tillering stage to the maturity stage. Also, the ALP treatment increased the total water use efficiency (TWUE) of winter wheat by 4.1–22.0%. Overall, ammoniated straw incorporation produced the most favorable biomass yield and WUE in the summer maize—Winter wheat rotation system in the Loess Plateau of China.

In Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), No-Till Improves Photosynthetic Nitrogen and Water-Use Efficiency

To evaluate the combined effect of different agricultural practices on photosynthetic nitrogen and water-use efficiency, winter wheat was grown in the field under tillage and no-till conditions, with and without cover crops under low and high nitrogen fertilization inputs. Leaf physiological traits, such as the rate of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, the rate of transpiration, the chlorophyll content index, the leaf area ratio, and specific leaf area were used as indicators representative of nitrogen and water-use efficiency. Six years after conversion to no-till, in the presence and in the absence of cover crops, significant increases in photosynthetic water-use efficiency and soil water content were observed both under low and high nitrogen fertilization input. Moreover, we observed that photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency, the rate of photosynthesis and specific leaf area were higher in the absence of tilling than in the presence of tilling. Thus, agronomic practices based on continuous no-till appear to be promising for increasing both photosynthetic nitrogen- and water-use efficiency in winter wheat.

Winter wheat yield and water use efficiency response to organic fertilization in northern China: A meta-analysis

Abstract Nitrogen (N) application is a basic practice for increasing cereal yield and efficient utilization of N sources is key to sustainable intensification. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine how organic fertilization (i.e., livestock manure) affects yield, yield variability and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in northern China, and how this is impacted by N management and growing environment. Organic fertilization significantly increased grain yield and WUE by an average of 18 and 20 % compared to without organic fertilizer, respectively, and also reduced spatial and temporal yield variability. Compared to without organic fertilizer, change in grain yield was +24, +28, and −11 % for treatments of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer plus organic fertilizer with the same level of synthetic nitrogen (NOF), decreased level of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer combined with organic fertilizer (NLOF), and a portion of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer replaced with organic nitrogen fertilizer at the same level of nitrogen (NROF), respectively. The positive effect of organic fertilizer on grain yield and WUE of winter wheat was greatest when yield levels was

Comparisons of WUE in twelve genotypes of winter wheat and the relationship between δ 13C and WUE.

Twelve winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes were examined for differences in grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C) in flag leaves. The plants were subjected to rain-fed treatment and supplemental irrigation at the jointing and anthesis stages, during the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 winter wheat growing seasons. The relationships between δ13C with grain yield and WUE were analyzed under two different water environments. The results indicated that there were significant differences in δ13C, grain yield, and WUE among wheat genotypes both under rain-fed and supplemental irrigation conditions. The δ13C values increased with grain-filling proceeding, the δ13C being lower under supplemental irrigation treatment than that under rain-fed treatment. The relationships between the average of δ13C with grain yield and WUE were significantly positive during three measurement periods (R2 = 0.5785 − 0.8258), whether under rain-fed or irrigation environments. This suggests that δ13C might be associated with the grain yield and WUE in winter wheat under rain-fed and supplemental irrigation conditions in the climate region of the northwest Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China.

Exogenous application of glycine betaine improved water use efficiency in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) via modulating photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidative capacity under conventional and limited irrigation conditions

Improving water use efficiency (WUE) is an important subject in agricultural irrigation for alleviating the scarcity of water resources in semiarid regions of the North China Plain. Moreover, glycine betaine (GB) is one of the most effective compatible solutes synthesized naturally in plants for enhancing stress tolerance under abiotic stress, but little information is available on the involvement of GB in regulating crop WUE under field conditions. This study was conducted to explore the role of exogenously applied GB in improving WUE and plant physiological and biochemical responses in winter wheat subjected to conventional or limited irrigation during the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 growing seasons. Exogenous application of GB significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide under limited irrigation conditions. Furthermore, GB-treated plants maintained higher leaf relative water content and membrane stability, which led to higher chlorophyll content and gas exchange attributes for better intrinsic and instantaneous water use efficiencies compared to control plants under limited irrigation conditions. GB-treated plants had higher indole-acetic acid and zeatin riboside levels but lower ABA levels compared to control plants under conventional and limited irrigation conditions. Additionally, GB enhanced the grain filling rate and duration, grain number per spike, and final grain weight, which resulted in higher grain yield compared to the control. Interestingly, GB significantly improved the integrative and photosynthetic WUE under conventional and limited irrigation conditions, although GB treatment did not markedly affect total water consumption. These results suggest the involvement of GB in improving WUEs in winter wheat by modulating hormonal balance, membrane stability, photosynthetic performance and antioxidant systems to maintain higher grain yield under conventional and limited irrigation conditions.

Subsoiling improves soil physical and microbial properties, and increases yield of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China

Abstract Faced with the decline in sustainable farmlands that have resulted from pressure to increase yields, there is a need for science-backed tillage practices that can improve soil ecology and still promote productivity in winter wheat fields. An experiment was performed from 2010 to 2015 under the rotation of summer maize and winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (3HP) of China, to test how three tillage practices rotary tillage (R), strip rotary tillage (SR), and annual strip rotary tillage with a subsoiling interval of two years (SRS) impact soil physicochemical and microbial indicators. Results showed that soil water content (SWC) under SRS treatment decreased by 10.4% and 13.4% compared with that under R and SR within the 40–60 cm soil layers at maturity. SRS treatment also decreased the mean bulk density (BD), but increased the average soil porosity (SP) within the 0–45 cm soil layer. Furthermore, organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen content (TN) from SRS were significantly higher than those from SR and R at maturity within the 15–45 cm soil layer. Compared with R and SR, soil respiration (SRN) of the 15–45 cm soil layer in SRS was significantly higher at jointing, and the mean soil microbial biomass C (MBC) from SRS increased by 34.9% and 30.6% at 0–30 cm at jointing and maturity, respectively. This increase was likely responsible for suitable soil water, good soil aeration and soil structure in SRS. Average grain yield (GY) and water use efficiency (WUE) were all the highest under SRS at 8997 kg ha−1 and 20.3 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively. Thus, SRS is the most suitable tillage practice for improving soil physicochemical and microbial properties, and increasing GY and WUE of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China.

Effect of sowing time and seeding rate on yield components and water use efficiency of winter wheat by regulating the growth redundancy and physiological traits of root and shoot

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to explore the effect of different sowing time and seeding rate on yield components and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat by regulating the growth redundancy and physiological traits of root and shoot. Winter wheat sowing was performed on Oct.12 (T1), Oct.22 (T2), Nov.3 (T3), respectively. There were three treatments of different seeding rates, i.e. 112.5 kg hm−2 (D1), 150 kg hm−2 (D2) and 225 kg hm−2(D3) in each sowing time. The results showed that sowing time and seeding rate significantly influenced the morphological and physiological characteristics of winter wheat. Plant height, ineffective tiller number, leaf area and root biomass decreased significantly along with the delay of sowing date. Plant height, ineffective tiller number and root biomass increased significantly and leaf area decreased significantly with increasing seeding rate. Under the same seeding rate condition, T1 had the highest number of ineffective tiller, and T3 had the lowest one. Delayed sowing (T2 and T3) increased significantly root activities and leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn) in the late growing stage, and decreased significantly root respiration rate (Rroot) per unit area of wheat. In the same sowing time treatment, root activities and leaf Pn decreased significantly and Rroot increased significantly with the increase of seeding rate; however, seeding rate had no effect on root activity and leaf Pn in T3 treatment. Grain yield decreased significantly in T1 and increased significantly in T3 with the increase of seeding rate, and it was the highest in D2 and the lowest in D1 in T2 treatment. Delayed sowing lowered significantly soil water consumption of crop. Under the same sowing time condition, soil water consumption increased significantly as seeding rate increased. WUE decreased significantly with the increase of seeding rate in T1and T2 treatments. In two test years, T2D2 had highest grain yield and WUE, and T3D1 had lowest grain yield and WUE. The interaction of sowing time and seeding rate also had significant effect on soil water consumption, grain yield and WUE. It is clear that appropriate sowing time and seeding rate (T2 Treatmeat) can increase grain yield and WUE of winter wheat by regulating the growth redundancy and physiological traits of root and shoot, but excessive reduction of vegetative organs (T3 Treatmeat) can affect crop production.

Nitrogen fertilization improved water-use efficiency of winter wheat through increasing water use during vegetative rather than grain filling

Abstract Water availability is a major constraint for wheat production in many semiarid regions of the world, including the Loess Plateau of China, and thus improving the water use efficiency (WUE) becomes a main research target. The impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on root growth, water use and WUE were examined for winter wheat grown in a semiarid farm on the Loess Plateau of China. A four-growing season field study (2011–2015) at the Changwu Agri-ecological Station, Changwu, Shaanxi, China with four rates of N fertilizer (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha−1) were conducted to determine soil water balance, root growth, yield and WUE in each growing season. Soil water content at final harvest in each growing season was lower and evapotranspiration (ETg) was higher under N supply than under non-N fertilization. N supply increased root growth and root length density (RLD) in deeper layers of the soil profile (80–140 cm), and improved water uptake, above-ground biomass and WUEb during vegetative growth stage. Grain yield under 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha−1, increased by 12.8, 25.4 and 34.8%, respectively, with corresponding improvements in WUEg of 5.1, 13.8 and 29.3%, respectively, when compared to the non-N treatment. Our results demonstrated that N applications improved dryland winter wheat WUEg by increasing deep root growth and water use during vegetative.

Physiological mechanisms contributing to increased water-use efficiency in winter wheat under organic fertilization.

Improving the efficiency of resource utilization has received increasing research attention in recent years. In this study, we explored the potential physiological mechanisms underlying improved grain yield and water-use efficiency of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following organic fertilizer application. Two wheat cultivars, ChangHan58 (CH58) and XiNong9871 (XN9871), were grown under the same nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate (urea-N, CK; and manure plus urea-N, M) and under two watering regimes (WW, well-watered; and WS, water stress) imposed after anthesis. The M fertilizer treatment had a higher Pn and lower gs and Tr than CK under both water conditions, in particular, it significantly increased WRC and Ψw, and decreased EWLR and MDA under WS. Also, the M treatment increased post-anthesis N uptake by 81.4 and 16.4% under WS and WW, thus increasing post-anthesis photosynthetic capacity and delaying leaf senescence. Consequently, the M treatment increased post-anthesis DM accumulation under WS and WW by 51.5 and 29.6%, WUEB by 44.5 and 50.9%, grain number per plant by 11.5 and 12.2% and 1000-grain weight by 7.3 and 3.6%, respectively, compared with CK. The grain yield under M treatment increased by 23 and 15%, and water use efficiency (WUEg) by 25 and 23%, respectively. The increased WUE under organic fertilizer treatment was due to elevated photosynthesis and decreased Tr and gs. Our results suggest that the organic fertilizer treatment enabled plants to use water more efficiently under drought stress.

Responses of Winter Wheat Yield and Water Use Efficiency to Irrigation Frequency and Planting Pattern.

A suitable planting pattern and irrigation strategy are essential for optimizing winter wheat yield and water use efficiency (WUE). The study aimed to evaluate the impact of planting pattern and irrigation frequency on grain yield and WUE of winter wheat. During the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 winter wheat growing seasons in the North China Plain, the effects of planting patterns and irrigation frequencies were determined on tiller number, grain yield, and WUE. The two planting patterns tested were wide-precision and conventional-cultivation. Each planting pattern had three irrigation regimes: irrigation (120 mm) at the jointing stage; irrigation (60 mm) at both the jointing and heading stages; and irrigation (40 mm) at the jointing, heading, and milking stages. In our study, tiller number was significantly higher in the wide-precision planting pattern than in the conventional-cultivation planting pattern. Additionally, the highest grain yields and WUE were observed when irrigation was applied at the jointing stage (120 mm) or at the jointing and heading stages (60 mm each) in the wide-precision planting pattern. These results could be attributed to higher tiller numbers as well as reduced water consumption due to reduced irrigation frequency. In both growing seasons, applying 60 mm of water at jointing and heading stages resulted in the highest grain yield among the treatments. Based on our results, for winter wheat production in semi-humid regions, we recommend a wide-precision planting pattern with irrigation (60 mm) at both the jointing and heading stages.

Improving Winter Wheat Grain Yield and Water Use Efficiency through Fertilization and Mulch in the Loess Plateau

Revealing the response of cereal yield and water use efficiency (WUE) to water management practices is crucial for achieving high and stable grain yields in drylands. A 3‐yr field study was conducted to develop a high‐yield, water‐saving cultivation strategy for winter wheat in the Loess Plateau of China. The study's treatments included (i) a control (CK), that is, no mulch or fertilizer, (ii) nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers (NP), (iii) plastic film mulch plus fertilizers (NP+PF), (iv) straw mulch plus fertilizers (NP+S), and (v) plastic film combined with straw mulch plus fertilizers (NP+PF+S). The results indicated that, compared with CK, the NP treatment improved the grain yield (112%) and WUE (96%) of winter wheat but resulted in a 12% reduction in soil water storage after the jointing stage. With the NP+S treatment, there was no difference recorded in grain yield, yield components, or WUE of winter wheat (relative to the NP treatment). With the NP+PF treatment, there was a 53% increase in grain yield, a 46% increase in WUE, and a 21% increase in soil water storage after jointing compared to the NP treatment. The plastic film could also modify soil temperature, resulting in maximized soil water retention. Additionally, the NP+PF and NP+PF+S treatments resulted in similar results. Taking into account agricultural, environmental, and economic factors, in addition to optimal fertilization (NP), plastic film mulch is the recommended practice for maximum yield and water retention in tablelands, whereas plastic film combined with straw mulch is recommended in terraces.

Assessment of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under alternate furrow irrigation in northern China: Grain yield and water use efficiency

Jia, D.-Y., Dai, X.-L., Men, H.-W. and He, M.-R. 2014. Assessment of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under alternate furrow irrigation in northern China: Grain yield and water use efficiency. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 349-359. Increasing water use efficiency (WUE) can improve agricultural production in the north of China, where there is little or no prospect for the expansion of water resources. A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of alternate furrow irrigation (AFI) on the physiological response, grain yield, and WUE of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) over two successive growing seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011). The irrigation regimes were: W0, non-irrigated; W2, every furrow was irrigated at jointing and anthesis; W3, every furrow was irrigated before wintering and at jointing and grain filling; and AFI, where one of the two neighboring furrows was alternately irrigated before wintering and at grain filling, and every furrow was irrigated during jointing. Our result...

Effects of Phosphorus Application in Different Soil Layers on Root Growth, Yield, and Water-Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat Grown Under Semi-Arid Conditions

Deep phosphorus application can be a usefull measure to improve crops’ performance in semi-arid regions, but more knowledge of both its general effects and effects on specific crops is required to optimize treatments. Thus, the aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of phosphorus (P) application at different soil layers on root growth, grain yield, and water-use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat grown on the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China and to explore the relationship between root distribution and grain yield. The experiment consisted of four P treatments in a randomized complete block design with three replicates and two cultivars: one drought-sensitive (Xiaoyan 22, XY22) and one drought-tolerant (Changhan 58, CH58). The four P treatments were no P (control, CK), surface P (SP), deep P (DP), and deep-band P application (DBP). CH58 produced larger and deeper root systems, and had higher grain yields and WUE, under the deep P treatments (DP and DBP) than under SP, clearly showing that deep P placement had beneficial effects on the drought-tolerant cultivar. In contrast, the grain yield and root growth of XY22 did not differ between DP or DBP and SP treatments. Further, root dry weight (RW) and root length (RL) in deep soil layer (30-100 cm) were closely positively correlated with grain yield and WUE of CH58 (but not XY22), highlighting the connections between a well-developed subsoil root system and both high grain yield and WUE for the drought-tolerant cultivar. WUE correlated strongly with grain yield for both cultivars (r=0.94, P<0.001). In conclusion, deep application of P fertilizer is a practical and feasible means of increasing grain yield and WUE of rainfed winter wheat in semi-arid regions, by promoting deep root development of drought-tolerant cultivars.