A simulation of winter wheat crop responses to irrigation management using CERES-Wheat model in the North China Plain

To improve efficiency in the use of water resources in water-limited environments such as the North China Plain（NCP）, where winter wheat is a major and groundwater-consuming crop, the application of water-saving irrigation strategies must be considered as a method for the sustainable development of water resources. The initial objective of this study was to evaluate and validate the ability of the CERES-Wheat model simulation to predict the winter wheat grain yield, biomass yield and water use efficiency（WUE） responses to different irrigation management methods in the NCP. The results from evaluation and validation analyses were compared to observed data from 8 field experiments, and the results indicated that the model can accurately predict these parameters. The modified CERES-Wheat model was then used to simulate the development and growth of winter wheat under different irrigation treatments ranging from rainfed to four irrigation applications（full irrigation） using historical weather data from crop seasons over 33 years（1981–2014）. The data were classified into three types according to seasonal precipitation： 〈100 mm, 100–140 mm, and 〉140 mm. Our results showed that the grain and biomass yield, harvest index（HI） and WUE responses to irrigation management were influenced by precipitation among years, whereby yield increased with higher precipitation. Scenario simulation analysis also showed that two irrigation applications of 75 mm each at the jointing stage and anthesis stage（T3） resulted in the highest grain yield and WUE among the irrigation treatments. Meanwhile, productivity in this treatment remained stable through different precipitation levels among years. One irrigation at the jointing stage（T1） improved grain yield compared to the rainfed treatment and resulted in yield values near those of T3, especially when precipitation was higher. These results indicate that T3 is the most suitable irrigation strategy under variable precipitation regimes for stable yield of winter wheat with maximum water savings in the NCP. The application of one irrigation at the jointing stage may also serve as an alternative irrigation strategy for further reducing irrigation for sustainable water resources management in this area.

Clinical and Laboratory Features, and Quality of Life Assessment in Wheat Dependent Exercise-induced Anaphylaxis Patients from Central China

Wheat dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis（WDEIA） is a rare but potentially severe food allergy caused by the combination of wheat ingestion and physical exercise. The impact of WDEIA on quality of life（QOL） is unclear. This study characterized the clinical and laboratory features and investigated the QOL in WDEIA patients from Central China. Twenty-eight WDEIA patients were analyzed, and QOL was measured by validated Chinese version Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adult Form（FAQLQ-AF） and Food Allergy Independent Measure（FAIM） after obtaining the diagnosis. The results showed that half of the patients were females. The median onset age was 37 years old. The symptoms occurred within 1 h after wheat ingestion（26/28）. Symptoms of anaphylaxis included cutaneous（26/28）, respiratory（11/28）, gastro-intestinal（5/28） and cardiovascular manifestations（27/28）. Skin prick tests were positive to salt soluble（89.3%） and salt insoluble wheat allergen extracts（100%）. Positive rate to wheat, gluten and omega-5 gliadin specific Ig E was 64.3%, 92.9% and 92.9% respectively. Specific Ig E to omega-5 gliadin with a cut-off value 0.83 KU/L offered highly efficient diagnostic criterion for WDEIA（sensitivity： 89.3%; and specificity： 88.9%）. The mean scores of FAQLQ-AF and FAIM were 4.70 and 4.98 respectively and level of anti-omega-5 gliadin Ig E had positive correlations with FAQLQ scores. Thereby, WDEIA is commonly found in mid-age adults. In most cases, multi-organs especially skin and cardiovascular systems are involved. Salt insoluble wheat allergen skin test and serum specific Ig E to gluten and omega-5 gliadin help to diagnose WDEIA. QOL in WDEIA patients is severely impaired.

Archaeobotanical Data for Research on the Introduction of Wheat into China

After being introduced into China from West Asia,wheat gradually replaced such varieties of millet as Setaria italica and Panicum miliaceum to become the main dry-land farming crop in northern China,forming China’s current agricultural production pattern of rice in the south and wheat in the north.To date,there have been dozens of reported archaeological discoveries about early wheat remains.According to these newly unearthed findings,wheat was introduced into China through at least two routes between 4500 and 4000 years ago.One is the grassland route from West Asia,through Central Asia,the Bronze Age cultures of the Eurasian Steppe,the Northern Cultural Zone in northern China to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River.The other is the oasis route from West Asia,through Central Asia,Pamir’s oases on both sides of the Tarim Basin,the Hexi Corridor,to the Loess Plateau of northern China.

Effects of Irrigation on Soil and Wheat Yield under Drought Conditions in Sichuan

In order to study the effective water-saving cultivation of wheat in Sichuan under drought conditions to reduce grain loss,the effects of different irrigation methods（ natural rainfall,artificial irrigation,and infiltrating irrigation） on soil physical characteristics and main agronomic characters and yield of wheat were analyzed. The results showed that different irrigation treatments at different growth stages had different effects on soil physical characteristics and agronomic characters of wheat. At the seedling and jointing stage,there were small differences between the treatments in soil compactness,soil bulk density,and soil water content. At the flowering and maturation stage,different irrigation treatments had great impacts on soil compactness,soil bulk density,soil water content,and agronomic characters of wheat. In the hilly areas of Sichuan Basin,infiltrating irrigation at the jointing stage was the best,and wheat yield increased significantly,2 113. 46 kg/hm^2 higher than that in the control.

Field scale interaction and nutrient exchange between surface water and shallow groundwater in the Baiyang Lake region,North China Plain

Fertilizer input for agricultural food production, as well as the discharge of domestic and industrial water pollutants, increases pressures on locally scarce and vulnerable water resources in the North China Plain. In order to：（a） understand pollutant exchange between surface water and groundwater,（b） quantify nutrient loadings, and（c） identify major nutrient removal pathways by using qualitative and quantitative methods, including the geochemical model PHREEQC） a one-year study at a wheat（Triticum aestivum L.） and maize（Zea mays L.） double cropping system in the Baiyang Lake area in Hebei Province, China, was undertaken. The study showed a high influence of low-quality surface water on the shallow aquifer. Major inflowing pollutants into the aquifer were ammonium and nitrate via inflow from the adjacent Fu River（up to 29.8 mg/L NH4-N and 6.8 mg/L NO3-N）, as well as nitrate via vertical transport from the field surface（up to 134.8 mg/L NO3-N in soil water）. Results from a conceptual model show an excess nitrogen input of about 320 kg/ha/a. Nevertheless,both nitrogen species were only detected at low concentrations in shallow groundwater,averaging at 3.6 mg/L NH4-N and 1.8 mg/L NO3-N. Measurement results supported by PHREEQC-modeling indicated cation exchange, denitrification, and anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled with partial denitrification as major nitrogen removal pathways. Despite the current removal capacity, the excessive nitrogen fertilization may pose a future threat to groundwater quality. Surface water quality improvements are therefore recommended in conjunction with simultaneous monitoring of nitrate in the aquifer, and reduced agricultural N-inputs should be considered.