Winter Wheat Grain Yield Research Articles

Night warming at the vegetative stage improves pre-anthesis photosynthesis and plant productivity involved in grain yield of winter wheat

We conducted pot experiments during the 2018–2020 growing seasons to study the effects of night warming at different growth stages of wheat on the photosynthetic performance; accumulation, transportation, and distribution of dry matter; and grain yield of winter wheat. Night warming at all the different growth stages resulted in an elevation of wheat yield by increasing the 1000-grain weight and the number of grains per ear. Night warming during the period from jointing to booting stage resulted in the greatest increase in wheat yield. It also increased the amount of overall dry matter and transferrable amount of dry matter in plants and increased the distribution of dry matter to grains to increase grain weight. Night warming treatments at three different growth stages enhanced pre-anthesis photosynthetic capacity by increasing flag leaf net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and photochemical efficiency of winter wheat at the early stage of grain filling, especially in the night warming treatment from jointing to booting stage. Night warming not only increased the stomatal density and stomatal index of wheat leaves but also increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in the early stage of grain filling, thus being conducive to the smooth progress of photosynthesis. In conclusion, night warming treatment at different growth stages increased the photosynthesis of flag leaves at the early stage of grain filling, and promoted the accumulation of dry matter in plants after anthesis, which was conducive to the grain yield of winter wheat.

AGROECONOMICAL EFFICIENCY OF WINTER WHEAT FERTILIZATION SYSTEMS ON HIGHLY CULTIVATED SOD-PODZOLIC LOAMY

In the field technological experience on highly cultivated sod-podzolic loamy soil, the agroeconomical efficiency of different fertilization systems of winter wheat, depending on the method of basic tillage, was studied. It was found that the sealing of straw without a compensating dose of nitrogen, both with traditional and surface tillage, did not have a negative effect on the uniformity of seedlings and the development of winter wheat plants. Due to the use of fertilizers in a block with traditional tillage, the yield of winter wheat grain increased by 31 % on average and the protein and gluten content significantly increased, i. e. fertilizers provided food grain along with an increase in yield. In the block with surface tillage, the yield was on average 4,6 c/ha higher compared to similar options in the block with traditional tillage.

Estimating crop yield under conditions of soil water deficit and salinity stress with crop water productivity model

The aim of this study was to simulate grain yield, biomass production, canopy cover and water productivity of winter wheat grown under soil water deficit and salinity stress by AquaCrop model. Five different irrigation strategies (S100 - S75 - S50 – S25 and S0) and 5 different irrigation water salinity levels (T1 = 0.3 dS m-1, T2 =5 dS m-1, T3 = 7.5 dS m-1, T4 = 10 dS m-1, T5 = 15 dS m-1) were used with the model to estimate deficit irrigation and salinity stress scenarios. According to estimation of the model the grain and biomass yields were fluctuated in the range of 5.43-8.00 t ha-1 and 12.84-17.67 t ha-1 at irrigation treatments. The application of 25%, 50% and 75% level of deficit irrigation, grain yield reduction was obtained 5%, 13% and 26% respectively. It was compared to the T1 (control) treatment, a low value of 3% was obtained for the T2 treatment. Yield loss of T3 and T4 salinity treatments were found to be 19% and 43% respectively. The crop yield reduction was dramatically (86%) at 15 dS m salinity level of irrigation water. The lowest yield was obtained at all salinity levels in I25 treatment, where 75% water saved. The highest and lowest water productivity was 1.28 kg m-3 and 1.20 kg m-3 respectively. It is possible to irrigate much more areas saving water with deficit irrigation and also the yields obtained from these areas were 2.17, 6.17 and 17.2 tons more than the yields obtained from areas irrigated with full irrigation. For, sustainable water management in agriculture area, using simulation model such as AquaCrop is useful tolls to estimate effect of applied water depth and quality of irrigation water on crop yield.

Effects of drip irrigation on root activity pattern, root-sourced signal characteristics and yield stability of winter wheat

A field experiment was conducted to explore the mechanism of drip fertilization to increase grain yield and water productivity (WP) of winter wheat. The traditional irrigation and fertilization method (surface flooding irrigation + artificially applying fertilizer) was used as CK, and two drip fertilization methods were set up: surface drip fertilization (I1) and subsurface drip fertilization (I2). The results showed that drip fertilization affected the root morphological pattern (RMP) and root activity pattern (RAP)of wheat by affecting the distribution of water and nitrogen in the soil. At heading stage, both I1 and I2 had higher root weight density (RWD) and root length density (RLD) in deep soil layer (40–80 cm) compared with CK, but lower RWD and RLD in the topsoil layer (0–20 cm). I1 and I2 had greater root activity in deep soil layer compare to CK, but root activity of I2 in 0–20 cm surface soil was lower than that of CK and I1. Drip fertilization also affected the distribution space of maximum root activity (MRA) of plant. At heading stage, the distribution space of MRA of I1 and I2 was the same as that of CK, and all of them were located in 20–40 cm soil layer. At the filling stage, MRA of CK was located in 40–80 cm soil layer, and that of I1 and I2 were in 20–60 cm soil layer. Plant can adjust its water uptake strategy and RAP according to soil moisture and the growth stages. Plants in I1 and CK mainly use water from 0 to 20 cm soil layer at jointing stage (one week after irrigation), and I2 mainly absorbs water from 20 to 40 cm soil layer. At the filling stage (three weeks after irrigation), the main uptake space (MUS) of root moved to 40–80 cm soil layers, but I1 and I2 had greater water uptake capacity in this position compared with CK. Drip fertilization also triggered non-hydraulic root-sourced signal (nHRS) earlier, but delayed the emergence of hydraulic root-sourced signal (HRS). In addition, the grain yield, yield stability (YS) and WP of I1 and I2 were higher than those of CK. In conclusion, drip fertilization optimized RMP, RAP and root-sourced signal characteristics of crop by improving the water and fertilizer environment in the root zone, thus improving grain yield, YS and WP of crop.

Subsoil water use to attain stable high yields of winter wheat in drylands Loess Plateau of China

In drylands, rainfed crops generally produce low yield due to low and irregular annual precipitation. It is challenging to obtain both high and stable crop yield in drylands. Soil water storage and consumption are crucial affecting crop yield in drylands. However, the relationship between yield and the degree of subsoil water consumption is still unclear. To clarify the contribution of subsoil water on yield performance under different conditions of WS (water supply during the growing season), we analyzed the relationship between grain yield of winter wheat and SWC1–2 (1–2 m subsoil water consumption) under different WS conditions, from published studies on a typical dryland habitat (Loess Plateau of China). The results showed that increasing SWC1–2 during late growth stage had a great potential to increase wheat yield. Moreover, the probability of low wheat yield decreased as more subsoil water was used. When the residual subsoil water storage reduced from (270–210) to (150–90) mm at harvest time, the probability of yield falling below 4000 kg ha−1 was decreased from 100 % to 48.01 % under < 666 mm WS conditions; and the probability of exceeding 5000 kg ha−1 was greatly increased from 0.55 % to 99.59 % under > 666 mm WS conditions. In addition, SWC1–2 was significantly increased with increasing number of spikes or shoot biomass, which suggests that it is necessary to ensure a sufficient plant population for higher consumption of subsoil water. Our study indicates that wheat yield can be greatly enhanced by using more subsoil water under high WS conditions, and the probability of low wheat yield can be decreased with increasing subsoil water consumption under low WS conditions.

Nitrogen Modulates the Effects of Heat, Drought, and Combined Stresses on Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Capacity, Cell Osmoregulation, and Grain Yield in Winter Wheat

Nitrogen Modulates the Effects of Heat, Drought, and Combined Stresses on Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Capacity, Cell Osmoregulation, and Grain Yield in Winter Wheat

Yield sustainability of winter wheat under three limited-irrigation schemes based on a 28-year field experiment

Sustainable intensification is an agricultural development direction internationally. However, little is known about the yield sustainability of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under limited irrigation schemes on the North China Plain (NCP). A 28-year field experiment from 1991 to 2018 at Wuqiao Experimental Station was used to characterize long-term yield, evapotranspiration (ET), and water use efficiency (WUE) trends under three irrigation treatments (W1, irrigation just before sowing; W2, irrigation before sowing and at jointing stage; W3, irrigation before sowing, at jointing stage, and at anthesis). Yield gaps and the effects of genetic improvement, climate change, and climate variables on wheat yield and key phenological stages were estimated using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model. Grain yield and WUE of winter wheat increased during the 28 years under the three irrigation treatments, and the upward trend of WUE followed a saturation curve pattern. ET increased slightly. Simulation results showed that genetic improvement dramatically prolonged the phenological stages of vegetative growth period and contributed to yield increase by 0.03%–15.6%. The rapid increase in yield with lower water use was associated mainly with an increase in biomass with genetic improvement and partly with an increase in harvest index. A curvilinear relationship between WUE and yield emphasized the importance of obtaining high yields for high WUE. The yield gaps between potential yield and yield under W1 treatment increased from 1991 to 2018 but were relatively constant for the W2 and W3 treatments. Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration offset the negative effects of temperature increase on yield, leading to minor (−2.3% to 0.3%) changes in yield under climate change. Thus, genetic improvement played a dominant role in yield increase, and limited-irrigation schemes (W2 and W3) can increase wheat yield and promote sustainability of crop production on the NCP.

Productivity of crop rotations on lignt chestnut soils of the Lover Volga region

Recently the orientation on fertilizers of agrogenous origin (leies, straw, crop residue) is significantly expanding. As the main agricultural instrument, ensuring the achievement of these goals, scientifically based crop rotation is adopted as a method for regulating the receipt and quality of organic matter into the soil and the speed of its transformation. In this regard, our research is aimed at developing the optimal structure of field and crop rotations for a developing situation. The cultivation technology of crops was generally accepted for the research area. Placing options were: (A) sequential and (B) blocks in three tiers. The main soil cultivation in the experiment was beardless plowing by stilt SibPME to a depth of 25–27 cm. Regionalized varieties of agricultural crops were cultivated. The counts and observations were carried out according to the recommendations. For the period July — August, the largest amount of precipitation fell in 2016 — 119.0 mm; the smallest in 2017 — 6.0 mm, in other years this indicator was in the range of 32.8–86.0 mm. On average, over the years of research, the greatest accumulation of crop residues, straw and roots was in a 4-field crop rotation with black fallow — 3.4 t/ha. The highest amount of nitrogen entering the soil with straw, crop residues was noted in an 8-field crop rotation — 49.8 kg/ha. The largest amount of biological nitrogen (according to Trepachev’s method) was accumulated under alfalfa crops — 34.4 kg/ha. Analysis of soil samples for the content of humus over the years of research did not reveal significant changes. The best predecessor for winter wheat is black fallow. After perennial grasses, peas, the grain yield of winter wheat in some years decreases by 4–12 c/ha. Analysis of the correlation dependence of the productivity of crop rotations has shown that the highest dependence with atmospheric precipitation for May — June is t = +0.50 for grain and fodder units and slightly less — for protein (t = + 0.26–0.50).

Root matters: Lying seeds flat with the crease down improves grain yield in winter wheat under drought stress

Root matters: Lying seeds flat with the crease down improves grain yield in winter wheat under drought stress

Optimizing N-fertigation scheduling maintains yield and mitigates global warming potential of winter wheat field in North China Plain

Traditional methods of nitrogen fertilizer (urea) application are major causes of poor nitrogen use and serious greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), which translates into global warming. Rational scheduling of nitrogen fertilization is critical for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions as well as ensuring sustainable food production. There is little information on the coupled analysis of global warming potential (GWP) and grain yield (GY) of winter wheat under a drip fertigation system. A two-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of split fertigation of nitrogen on GWP and yield of drip-irrigated winter wheat. The 5 levels of nitrogen schedule were as: N0-100 (all N fertilizer was applied as topdressing N), N25-75 (25% as basal N and 75% as topdressing N), N50-50 (50% as basal N and 50% as topdressing N), N75-25 (75% as basal N and 25% as topdressing N), and N100-0 (all N fertilizer was applied as basal and 0% topdressing N). The total nitrogen rate was 240 kg ha−1. The basal N doses were spread just before sowing and the topdressing N doses were applied through a drip fertigation system. The results revealed that N schedule significantly (P < 0.05) affected GHG (CO2, CH4 and N2O) emissions, GWP, GY, and subsequently the greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI). The lowest GWP (125.34 kg CO2 eq. ha−1) and GHGI (15.01 kg CO2 eq. Mg-1) were observed in N50–50 and N25-75 N scheduling, respectively. Compared with N100-0, the N scheduling of N25–75 and N50-50 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced GWP by 67.67 and 63.48%, respectively. A significantly higher yield (9.09 tons ha−1) was observed in the N50-50 treatment. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) specified that N50-50 N schedule provides the best results for minimized GWP at an acceptable GY. Therefore, the scheduling of 50% applied as basal N and other 50% as topdressing N through N-fertigation would be recommended for sustainable wheat production at a reduced risk of global warming in the North China Plain.

Effect of a Ridge-Furrow Mulching System and Limited Supplementary Irrigation on N2O Emission Characteristics and Grain Yield of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Fields under Dryland Conditions

Knowledge of the characteristics of N2O emissions and the influential mechanism is of great significance to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in semi-arid areas. In the present study, a three-year water-control study was conducted; three simulated rainfall amounts (heavy, normal, and light rainfall = 275, 200, and 125 mm, respectively), two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) planting modes (RF (ridge–furrow mulching system) and TF (traditional flat planting)) and four supplementary irrigation amounts (150, 75, 37.5, and 0 mm) were set up. The effects of different cultivation methods and irrigation amounts on soil N2O emissions, the soil water content, available nitrogen content, and denitrifying enzyme activity were investigated to clarify the N2O emission mechanism in winter wheat fields (Triticum aestivum L.). The results obtained after three years showed that compared with TF, the N2O emissions under RF decreased by 21.62–30.72% (p &lt; 0.001), whereas the soil water content increased by 6.26–8.82%, the available nitrogen content decreased by 1.71–16.24%, and the denitrifying enzyme activities increased by 0.2–24.16% under heavy rainfall conditions. Under conditions with normal and light rainfall, the N2O emission fluxes under RF increased by 3.66–12.46% and 6.08–15.57% (p &gt; 0.05), while the soil water contents increased by 6.13–11.49% and 8.05–13.88%, the soil available nitrogen contents decreased by 11.0–21.42% and 19.93–34.44%, and the denitrifying enzyme activities increased by 0.01–24.08% and 0.03–20.79% compared with TF. Principal component analysis showed that the main factors related to N2O emissions under RF were the soil moisture content and available nitrogen content; these factors combined explained 94.37% the variation of the N2O emissions. However, the main factors under TF were the soil moisture content and denitrifying enzyme activity; these factors combined explained 85.81%. In the heavy and normal rainfall years, compared with TF, using RF and 75 mm irrigation achieved the goal of reducing water usage as well as decreasing the N2O emissions (or N2O increase was not significant). In light rainfall years, RF with 150 mm irrigation obtained significant reductions in water usage compared with TF but it also increased the N2O emission flux. Under different rainfall years, the yield of RF increased by 2.89–50.44% compared with the TF system, and the increase in wheat grain yield increased with decreasing rainfall.

Climate Change Impacts on Crop Yield of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Maize (Zea mays) and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Northern China

Agricultural system models provide an effective tool for forecasting crop productivity and nutrient budgets under future climate change. This study investigates the potential impacts of climate change on crop failure, grain yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) for both winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in northern China, using the SPACSYS model. The model was calibrated and validated with datasets from 20-year long-term experiments (1985–2004) for the Loess plateau, and then used to forecast production (2020–2049) under six sharing social-economic pathway climate scenarios for both wheat and maize crops with irrigation. Results suggested that warmer climatic scenarios might be favourable for reducing the crop failure rate and increasing the grain yield for winter wheat, while the same climatic scenarios were unfavourable for maize production in the region. Furthermore, future SOC stocks in the topsoil layer (0–30 cm) could increase but in the subsoil layer (30–100 cm) could decrease, regardless of the chosen crop.

Straw strip mulching in a semiarid rainfed agroecosystem achieves carbon sequestration and emission reduction from winter wheat fields

Mulching practices improve soil hydrothermal conditions, which cause changes in soil respiration. Conventional straw mulching has low productivity in areas with relatively low temperatures. Meanwhile, the responses of soil respiration to mulching practices and the relationship between changes in environmental factors caused by mulching and carbon (C) components are not clear in dryland agroecosystem. In this study, we monitored seasonal changes in soil respiration flux and heterotrophic respiration flux of winter wheat fields under different mulching practices in a semiarid rainfed agroecosystem of northern China. The fields were designed for the following three treatments: straw strip mulching (SSM), plastic film mulching (PFM), and non-mulching (CK). Compared to CK, SSM decreased cumulative soil respiration and heterotrophic respiration by 11.6% and 13.3%, whereas PFM increased these values by 12.8% and 8.5%, respectively. SSM significantly decreased soil temperature but increased soil water-filled pore space (WFPS), while PFM significantly increased soil WFPS without affecting soil temperature. Respiration flux was more highly correlated with soil temperature and air temperature than with WFPS and rainfall. SSM and PFM respectively increased by 5.7–9.1% and 10.8–35.5% for grain yield, by 8.1–45.6% and 16.2–69.5% for straw yield, by 8.6–28.6% and 15.1–36.4% for net primary production, and by 23.1–80.6% and 20.3–95.2% for net ecosystem production. Furthermore, mulching practices had a great potential of soil C sequestration and SSM significantly increased soil organic carbon. Changes in ecosystem C components were primarily driven by biomass, followed by soil temperature and air temperature rather than WFPS and rainfall. Based on the sustainability of agroecosystems, SSM increased grain yield of winter wheat while reduced carbon emissions, which showed great potential for C sequestration and may create an environmentally friendly C sink system in a semiarid rainfed agroecosystem of northern China.

Substantiation of the influence of agrophysical factors and climatic conditions on the yield and quality of winter wheat in the Lower Volga region

The article substantiates the influence of agrophysical factors and climatic conditions on the yield and protein and gluten content in winter wheat grain. Agrophysical factors, soil moisture during the sowing period, and the tillering phase of winter wheat for various methods of basic tillage and for years in the Lower Volga region are analyzed. The data obtained for three years (2018–2020) show that a small (by 10–12 cm) basic tillage of black fallow for sowing winter wheat reduces its yield by 0.25 t/ha (10.6%), the content of gluten by 0.4%, of protein by 0.3%. Multiple regression calculations based on the coefficient of multiple determinations showed that the yield of winter wheat grain was 98% dependent on the studied factors, in terms of protein content this indicator was 63%, in terms of gluten - 74%. A complete correlation analysis of the dependence of grain yield, protein and gluten content on the studied factors showed that the most significant influence on the yield of winter wheat was exerted by soil moisture in the tillering phase (R2 = 0.83) and before sowing (R2 = 0.79), and in April - June (R2 = 0.77). The content of gluten and protein in winter wheat grain was mainly determined by soil moisture before sowing (r = - 0.85 and r = - 0.81) and the amount of precipitation during the growing season (r = - 0.84 and r = - 0.73).

Продуктивність короткоротаційних сівозмін в зоні Лісостепу за різних рівнів інтенсифікації

Goal. To substantiate short-term dynamic crop rotations with 100% saturation of grain crops at different levels of intensification suitable for agricultural formations of different forms of ownership of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Long-term field, laboratory, vegetation experiments, laboratory studies (chemical, physicochemical, microbiological). Results. The study was conducted in the subzone of unstable humidification of the Forest-Steppe on typical low-humus chornozem in Panfil research station of NSC “Institute of agriculture of NAAS”. It was found that different fertilizer systems (without fertilizers (absolute control), mineral (with the introduction of N45P55K55), organomineral (NPK + by-products of the predecessor), organic fertilizer systems (by-products of the predecessor)) of cereals of dynamic 4-field crop rotations (peas — winter wheat — corn for grain — spring barley) provided in conditions of unstable moisture of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine high and stable grain yields of winter wheat, which on average in 2016-2020 reached 4.67–6.75 t/ha, corn for grain — 5,86–8.30 t/ha, spring barley — 4.18–5.54 and peas 3.21–4.28 t/ha. Productivity of crop rotation area collected from 1 ha of arable land was 4.54–6.29 tons, feed units — 7.48-10.47, digestible protein — 0.60–0.84 tons. Economic efficiency of growing cereals in short-term crop rotations, depending on the fertilizer system, was: relatively net profit — 12.11–14.73 thousand UAH/ha at a level of profitability of 83–144%. The lowest energy costs (14.1 GJ/ha) and energy consumption (89.8 GJ/ha) were fixed in the control version (without fertilizers), and the highest — 28.3 and 115.5 GJ/ha, respectively — for the application of organomineral fertilizers. Conclusions. It was found that the organomineral fertilizer system provided the highest grain yield of 6.29 t/ha, harvested from 1 ha of arable land: fodder units — 10.47, grain units — 7.69, and digestible protein — 0.84 t. Economic efficiency for the same intensification system provided: conditionally net profit — 13.36 thousand UAH/ha, the level of profitability — 83% at Kee — 4.2.

Effects of brackish water irrigation on grain quality characteristics and yield of winter wheat

Brackish water resource is widely distributed in the North China Plain, which has not been effectively utilized. Using brackish water for irrigation can alleviate water resource conflict in the well-irrigated area and solve the problem of groundwater over-exploitation of the North China Plain. A long-term experiment (since 2006) was conducted to investigate the effects of brackish water irrigation on the quality and yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain. There were five salinity degrees of irrigation water, i.e. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g·L-1, respectively. The results showed that higher salinity degree of irrigation water (4-8 g·L-1) significantly increased water absorption, development time, sedimentation, wet gluten content, and protein content, but decreased the stabilization time, flour yield, and gluten index. There was no significant difference between the treatments of 1 g·L-1 and 2 g·L-1 on grain yield and yield components, but the treatment of 2 g·L-1 significantly improved grain quality, including water absorption, development time, sedimentation, wet gluten, and protein content. Higher salinity degree of irrigation water (4-8 g·L-1) treatments significantly decreased spike number (44.0%-60.7%) and grain yield (35.6%-64.7%), compared with 1 g·L-1 treatment. Results of principal component analysis showed that 2 g·L-1 treatment had the best overall effect with no significant decrease in grain yield and quality of grain. This study could provide theoretical basis and technical support for use of brackish water in the North China Plain.

A nitrogen fertilizer strategy for simultaneously increasing wheat grain yield and protein content: Mixed application of controlled-release urea and normal urea

Increasing grain yield and protein content simultaneously in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is challenging. Efficient nitrogen (N) management strategies, such as mixed application of controlled-release urea and normal urea (CRUNU), has been considered as a potential method for overcoming this challenge. Here, we tested CRUNU application in the winter wheat variety, Xiaoyan22, during three growing seasons (2017–2020) to examine its effects on photosynthetic characteristics, grain filling, dry matter, and N accumulation and remobilization. We aimed to determine the effect of CRUNU application on wheat grain yield and protein content and its underlying mechanisms. The results from the three wheat-growing seasons showed that CRUNU application significantly increased grain yield and protein content at three N application levels, with an average increase of 3.89% in grain yield and 6.35% in protein content compared with the results obtained using normal urea (NU). The main determinant for the increased grain yield was the increase in apical grain weight, which was mainly due to the improvement in grain filling. At the three N application levels, increased N accumulation was observed in vegetative organs (pre-anthesis) following CRUNU application compared with NU application; however, CRUNU application did not improve the contribution rate of pre-anthesis N accumulation in grains. The increase in grain N accumulation and protein content were mainly attributed to elevated post-anthesis N accumulation and its improved contribution to grain N content. Because CRUNU application improved wheat grain yield and protein content without significant variations between the medium and high N application levels, we suggest that CRUNU application, in combination with optimum N application levels, can be considered an effective agronomic management strategy to improve grain yield and protein content in winter wheat.

Effect of Different Sowing Methods on Water Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Wheat in the Loess Plateau, China

Research has revealed that summer fallow sowing improves the water use efficiency (WUE) and grain yield of winter wheat. However, wheat yields differ yearly with crop management. A field experiment over 8 years was established in the Loess Plateau to determine the role of precipitation and soil water storage in wheat yield formation under conservation tillage. The average WUE values were 7.8, 11.0, and 12.6 t·ha−1, while the average evapotranspiration (ET) values were 334.7, 365.5, and 410 mm when the yields were 3.0, 3.0–4.5, and over 4.5 t·ha−1, respectively. Compared to drill sowing (DS), high water consumption during early growth increased the spike number, grain number, and yield. In years of intermediate or low yields, wide-space sowing (WS) and furrow sowing (FS) improved the ET, WUE, spike number, grain number, and yield of wheat compared to (DS) drill sowing. When the wheat yield was 3.0–4.5 t·ha−1, higher soil water intake during jointing, anthesis, and anthesis–maturity increased the tiller number, 1000-grain weight, and yield, related to the use of suitable tillers. Synchronous increases in grain number per spike and 1000-grain weight were observed with increased soil water content at jointing, maturity, and anthesis, as well as consumption of soil water in the latter part during the growing season.

Daily drip irrigation based on real‐time weather improves winter wheat grain yield and water use efficiency

AbstractIn order to evaluate the effectiveness of daily drip irrigation on the growth of winter wheat, a 2‐year field experiment was conducted to compare the influence of conventional irrigation (CI) and daily drip irrigation (DI1 and DI2) on the soil water content, evapotranspiration dynamics, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat. CI irrigated 75 mm at elongation and anthesis periods, respectively. DI1 and DI2 started irrigation from the elongation period and single‐time irrigation amount was 30 and 45% respectively of the daily reference evapotranspiration until total irrigation amount reached 150 mm or winter wheat was harvested. During 2016–2017, the grain yield and WUE of DI1 improved significantly by 9.7 and 30.2%, respectively, compared with those of CI. In 2017–2018, grain yield of DI1 and DI2 improved significantly by 10.4 and 7.7%, and WUE of DI1 and DI2 increased by 8.5 and 12.7%, respectively, compared with those of CI. Compared with CI, winter wheat exposed to daily drip irrigation enhanced water utilization in deep soil layers and reduced the noon evapotranspiration rate, leading to less water consumption. Simultaneously, daily drip irrigation ensured water supply in the upper soil layers during the grain‐filling stage, and increased thousand grain weight and yield. The results showed that daily drip irrigation could greatly improve winter wheat yield and WUE by homogenizing water supply based on real‐time weather, which provided a reference for the formulation of accurate water‐saving drip irrigation strategy.

Impact of Subsoiling on Cultivated Horizon Construction and Grain Yield of Winter Wheat in the North China Plain

In order to explore the effects of subsoiling tillage measures on the construction of soil cultivated horizon and the yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat in the North China Plain, three tillage methods, including no tillage (PZ), rotary tillage (PR), and subsoiling (PS), combined with straw returning measures were implemented in the winter wheat season in Xinxiang, Henan Province from 2016 to 2018. The effects of tillage measures on the improvement of cultivated land quality and the water saving and yield increase of winter wheat were investigated. The results showed that compared with no-tillage treatment, subsoiling significantly reduced soil bulk density by 8.88% and increased soil porosity by 13.04% in 20–40 cm soil layer; significantly reduced soil compaction by 56.96% in 0–40 cm soil layer; subsoiling combined with straw returning significantly increased soil organic carbon content in plough layer of winter wheat, whereas rotary tillage decreased soil organic carbon content. Subsoiling is more conducive to soil moisture movement to the deep layer after irrigation or rainfall, and the water consumption of subsoiling is the largest in the whole growth period of winter wheat. Subsoiling could better coordinate the relationship between water consumption and yield, which increased yield by 34.48–38.10% and water use efficiency by 19.57–21.96% compared with no-tillage treatment, respectively. Therefore, subsoiling before sowing combined with straw returning was beneficial to the reasonable construction of soil cultivated horizon, and significantly improved the yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat under the climatic conditions in the North China Plain.