Optimization of sowing date and seeding rate for high winter wheat yield based on pre-winter plant development and soil water usage in the Loess Plateau,China

Sowing date and seeding rate are critical for productivity of winter wheat(Triticum aestivum L.).A three-year field experiment was conducted with three sowing dates(20 September(SD1),1 October(SD2),and 10 October(SD3)) and three seeding rates(SR67.5,SR90,and SR112.5) to determine suitable sowing date and seeding rate for high wheat yield.A large seasonal variation in accumulated temperature from sowing to winter dormancy was observed among three growing seasons.Suitable sowing dates for strong seedlings before winter varied with the seasons,that was SD2 in 2012–2013,SD3 in 2013–2014,and SD2 as well as SD1 in 2014–2015.Seasonal variation in precipitation during summer fallow also had substantial effects on soil water storage,and consequently influenced grain yield through soil water consumption from winter dormancy to maturity stages.Lower consumption of soil water from winter dormancy to booting stages could make more water available for productive growth from anthesis to maturity stages,leading to higher grain yield.SD2 combined with SR90 had the lowest soil water consumption from winter dormancy to booting stages in 2012–2013 and 2014–2015; while in 2013–2014,it was close to that with SR67.5 or SR112.5.For productive growth from anthesis to maturity stages,SD2 with SR90 had the highest soil water consumption in all three seasons.The highest water consumption in the productive growth period resulted in the best grain yield in both low and high rainfall years.Ear number largely contributed to the seasonal variation in grain yield,while grain number per ear and 1 000-grain weight also contributed to grain yield,especially when soil water storage was high.Our results indicate that sowing date and seeding rate affect grain yield through seedling development before winter and also affect soil water consumption in different growth periods.By selecting the suitable sowing date(1 October) in combination with the proper seeding rate of 90 kg ha–1,the best yield was achieved.Based on these results,we recommend that the current sowing date be delayed from 22 or 23 September to 1 October.

Effects of Different Tillage Systems on Soil Properties,Root Growth,Grain Yield,and Water Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Arid Northwest China

Studies on root development, soil physical properties, grain yield, and water-use efficiency are important for identifying suitable soil management practices for sustainable crop production. A field experiment was conducted from 2006 through 2008 in arid northwestern China to determine the effects of four tillage systems on soil properties, root development, water-use efficiency, and grain yield of winter wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）. The cultivar Fan 13 was grown under four tillage systems：conventional tillage （CT） without wheat stubble, no-tillage without wheat stubble mulching （NT）, no-tillage with wheat stubble standing （NTSS）, and no-tillage with wheat stubble mulching （NTS）. The soil bulk density （BD） under CT system increased gradually from sowing to harvest, but that in NT, NTSS, and NTS systems had little change. Compared to the CT system, the NTSS and NTS systems improved total soil water storage （0-150 cm） by 6.1-9.6 and 10.5- 15.3% before sowing, and by 2.2-8.9 and 13.0-15.1% after harvest, respectively. The NTSS and NTS systems also increased mean dry root weight density （DRWD） as compared to CT system. The NTS system significantly improved water-use efficiency by 17.2-17.5% and crop yield by 15.6-16.8%, and the NTSS system improved that by 7.8-9.6 and 7.0-12.8%, respectively, compared with the CT system. Our results suggested that Chinese farmers should consider adopting conservation tillage practices in arid northwestern China because of benefits to soil bulk density, water storage, root system, and winter wheat yield.

Improving winter wheat grain yield and water-/nitrogen-use efficiency by optimizing the micro-sprinkling irrigation amount and nitrogen application rate

Available irrigation resources are becoming increasingly scarce in the North China Plain (NCP),and nitrogen-use efficiency of crop production is also relatively low.Thus,it is imperative to improve the water-use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen fertilizer productivity on the NCP.Here,we conducted a two-year field experiment to explore the effects of different irrigation amounts (S60,60 mm;S90,90 mm;S120,120 mm;S150,150 mm) and nitrogen application rates (150,195 and 240 kg ha^(–1);denoted as N1,N2 and N3,respectively) under micro-sprinkling with water and nitrogen combined on the grain yield(GY),yield components,leaf area index (LAI),flag leaf chlorophyll content,dry matter accumulation (DM),WUE,and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP).The results indicated that the GY and NPFP increased significantly with increasing irrigation amount,but there was no significant difference between S120 and S150;WUE significantly increased first but then decreased with increasing irrigation and S120 achieved the highest WUE.The increase in nitrogen was beneficial to improving the GY and WUE in S60 and S90,while the excessive nitrogen application (N3) significantly reduced the GY and WUE in S120 and S150 compared with those in the N2 treatment.The NPFP significantly decreased with increasing nitrogen rate under the same irrigation treatments.The synchronous increase in spike number (SN) and 1 000-grain weight (TWG)was the main reason for the large increase in GY by micro-sprinkling with increasing irrigation,and the differences in SN and TGW between S120 and S150 were small.Under S60 and S90,the TGW increased with increasing nitrogen application,which enhanced the GY,while N2 achieved the highest TWG in S120 and S150.At the filling stage,the LAI increased with increasing irrigation,and greater amounts of irrigation significantly increased the chlorophyll content in the flag leaf,which was instrumental in increasing DM after anthesis and increasing the TGW.Micro-sprinkling with increased amounts of irrigation or excessive nitrogen application decreased the WUE mainly due to the increase in total water consumption (ET)and the small increase or decrease in GY.Moreover,the increase in irrigation increased the total nitrogen accumulation or contents (TNC) of plants at maturity and reduced the residual nitrate-nitrogen in the soil (SNC),which was conducive to the increase in NPFP,but there was no significant difference in TNC between S120 and S150.Under the same irrigation treatments,an increase in nitrogen application significantly increased the residual SNC and decreased the NPFP.Overall,micro-sprinkling with 120 mm of irrigation and a total nitrogen application of 195 kg ha^(–1) can lead to increases in GY,WUE and NPFP on the NCP.

Grain yield and water use of winter wheat as affected by water and sulfur supply in the North China Plain

Water shortage has threatened sustainable development of agriculture globally as well as in the North China Plain（NCP）.Irrigation,as the most effective way to increase food production in dry land,may not be readily available in the situation of drought.One of the alternatives is to supply plants with enough nutrients so that they can be more sustainable to the water stress.The objective of this study was to explore effects of irrigation and sulphur（S）application on water consumption,dry matter accumulation（DMA）,and grain yield of winter wheat in NCP.Three irrigation regimes including no irrigation（rainfed,I0）during the whole growth period,once irrigation only at jointing stage（90 mm,I1）,and twice respective irrigation at jointing and anthesis stages（90 mm plus 90 mm,I2）,and two levels of S application including 0S0and 60 kg ha^–1（S60）were designed in the field experiment in NCP.Results showed that increasing irrigation times significantly increased mean grain yield of wheat by 12.5–23.7%and nitrogen partial factor productivity（NPFP）by 21.2–45.0%in two wheat seasons,but markedly decreased crop water use efficiency（YWUE）.Furthermore,S supply 60 kg ha^–1 significantly increased mean grain yield,YWUE,IWUE and NPFP by 5.6,6.1,23.2,and 5.6%（across two wheat seasons）,respectively.However,we also found that role of soil moisture prior to S application was one of important greater factors on improving the absorption and utilization of storage water and nutrients of soil.Thus,water supply is still the most important factor to restrict the growth of wheat in the present case of NCP,supplying 60 kg ha^–1 S with once irrigation 90 mm at the jointing stage is a relatively appropriate recommended combination to improve grain yield and WUE of wheat when saving water resources is be considered in irrigated wheat farmlands of NCP.

Yield and water use responses of winter wheat to irrigation and nitrogen application in the North China Plain

With increasing water shortage resources and extravagant nitrogen application, there is an urgent need to optimize irrigation regimes and nitrogen management for winter wheat（Triticum aestivum L.） in the North China Plain（NCP）. A 4-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of three irrigation levels（W1, irrigation once at jointing stage; W2, irrigation once at jointing and once at heading stage; W3, irrigation once at jointing, once at heading, and once at filling stage; 60 mm each irrigation） and four N fertilizer rates（N0, 0; N1, 100 kg N ha-（-1）; N2, 200 kg N ha-（-1）; N3, 300 kg N ha-（-1）） on wheat yield, water use efficiency, fertilizer agronomic efficiency, and economic benefits. The results showed that wheat yield under W2 condition was similar to that under W3, and greater than that under W1 at the same nitrogen level. Yield with the N1 treatment was higher than that with the N0 treatment, but not significantly different from that obtained with the N2 and N3 treatments. The W2 N1 treatment resulted in the highest water use and fertilizer agronomic efficiencies. Compared with local traditional practice（W3 N3）, the net income and output-input ratio of W2 N1 were greater by 12.3 and 19.5%, respectively. These findings suggest that two irrigation events of 60 mm each coupled with application of 100 kg N ha-（–1） is sufficient to provide a high wheat yield during drought growing seasons in the NCP.

Effects of Ridge-Mulching with Plastic Sheets for Rainwater-Harvesting Cultivation on WUE and Yield of Winter Wheat

A field experiment was conducted in a manural loesial soil in middle of Shaanxi Province ofChina, a sub-humid area prone to drought, to study the effects of rainwater-harvestingcultivation on water use efficiency (WUE) and yield of winter wheat. Ridge-furrow tillage wasused, the ridge being mulched by plastic sheets for rainwater harvesting while seeding in thefurrows. Results showed that from sowing to reviving stage of winter wheat, water stored in 0-100 cm layer was significantly decreased whereas that in 100-200 cm layer did not change.Compared to the non-mulching, plastic mulch retained 6.5 mm more water as an average of the twoN rate treatments, having a certain effect on conservation of soil moisture. In contrast, atharvest, water was remarkably reduced in both the 0-100 cm and the 100-200 cm layers, andmulched plots consumed 34.8 mm more water as an average of the two treatments: low N rate (75kg N ha-1) with low plant density (2 300 000 plants ha-1) and high N rate (225 kg N ha-1)with highplant density (2 800 000 plants ha-1), in 0-200 cm layer than those without mulching, the formerbeing beneficial to plants in utilization of deep layer water. Mulching was significant inharvesting water and in increase of yield. Mulched with plastic sheets, biological and grainyields were 22.5 and 22.6% higher for the average of the high N rate than for the low N rate,and the high N rate with low plant density was 29.8 and 29.1% higher in both biological andgrain yields than that of the low N rate with low plant density. With high N rate and high plantdensity, the mulched biological and grain yields were 39.5 and 28.9% higher than the correspondingtreatments without mulching. Of the treatments, that with high N rate and low plant density wasthe highest in both biological and grain yields, and the water use efficiency reached 43.7 kgmm-1 ha-1 for biological yield and 22 kg mm-1 ha-1 for grain yield, being the highest WUE reportedin the world up to now.

Fitting of Water Requirement and Yield of Winter Wheat in North China Plain Based on Artificial Neural Network

The fitting of water requirement and yield during the growth period of winter wheat can improve yield effectively and improve irrigation water use efficiency with a certain amount of resource input. This paper selects the irrigation amount, precipitation and yield of winter wheat at the Wuqiao Scientific Observation and Experimental Station. Fitting the water requirement and yield of winter wheat based on three types of artificial neural networks. This paper uses support vector machine (SVM), thought evolution algorithm to optimize BP neural network (MAE-BP) and generalized regression neural network (GRNN) to fit the water requirement and yield of two crops. The SVM is the model with the highest fitting accuracy among the three models, the RMSE, MAE, NS and R2 between predictive value and true value are 7.45 kg/hectares, 213.64 kg/hectares, 0.8086, 0.9409 respectively.

Effects of Tillage Practices on Water Consumption, Water Use Efficiency and Grain Yield in Wheat Field

Water shortage is a serious issue threatening the sustainable development of agriculture in the North China Plain, with the winter wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） as its largest water-consuming crop. The effects of tillage practices on the water consumption and water use efifciency （WUE） of wheat under high-yield conditions using supplemental irrigation based on testing soil moisture dynamic change were examined in this study. This experiment was conducted from 2007 to 2010, with ifve tillage practice treatments, namely, strip rotary tillage （SR）, strip rotary tillage after subsoiling （SRS）, rotary tillage （R）, rotary tillage after subsoiling （RS）, and plowing tillage （P）. The results showed that in the SRS and RS treatments the total water and soil water consumptions were 11.81, 25.18%and 12.16, 14.75%higher than those in SR and R treatments, respectively. The lowest ratio of irrigation consumption to total water consumption in the SRS treatment was 18.53 and 21.88%for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 growing seasons, respectively. However, the highest percentage of water consumption was found in the SRS treatment from anthesis to maturity. No signiifcant difference was found between the WUE of the lfag leaf at the later iflling stage in the SRS and RS treatments, but the lfag leaf WUE at these stages were higher than those of other treatments. The SRS and RS treatments exhibited the highest grain yield （9 573.76 and 9 507.49 kg ha-1 for 3-yr average） with no signiifcant difference between the two treatments, followed by P, R and SR treatments. But the SRS treatment had the highest WUE. Thus, the 1-yr subsoiling tillage, plus 2 yr of strip rotary planting operation may be an efifcient measure to increase wheat yield and WUE.

Alternate row mulching optimizes soil temperature and water conditions and improves wheat yield in dryland farming

Straw mulching allows for effective water storage in dryland wheat production. Finding a suitable straw mulching model that facilitates wheat growth was the objective of this study. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two straw mulching patterns （FM, full coverage within all the rows; HM, half coverage within alternate rows） and two mulching rates （4.5 and 9.0 t ha^-1） on soil moisture, soil temperature, grain yield, and water use efficiency （WUE） of winter wheat in northern China, with no mulching （M0） as the control. Results showed that mulching increased the soil water storage in all growth stages under high mulching rates, with a stronger effect in later growth stages. Water storage under the HM model was greater in later stages than under the FM model. Soil water content of HM groups was higher than that of FM groups, especially in surface soil layers. Evapotranspiration decreased in mulched groups and was higher under high mulching rates. Aboveground biomass during each growth stage under the HM model was higher than that under M0 and FM models with the same mulched rate, leading to a relatively higher grain yield under the HM model. Mulching increased WUE, a trend that was more obvious under HM9.0 treatment. Warming effect of soil temperature under the HM pattern persisted longer than under the FM model with the same mulching rates. Accumulated soil temperature under mulched treatments increased, and the period of negative soil temperature decreased by 9-12 days under FM and by 10-20 days under HM. Thus, the HM pattern with 9.0 t ha^-1 mulching rate is beneficial for both soil temperature and water content management and can contribute to high yields and high WUE for wheat production in China.

Response of yield increase for dryland winter wheat to tillage practice during summer fallow and sowing method in the Loess Plateau of China

Soil moisture is the most critical limiting factor impacting yields of dryland winter wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) and it is strongly affected by tillage practice and sowing methods. This study was to assess the link between sowing method and tillage practice during summer fallow and their subsequent effect on soil moisture and grain yield. Furthermore, we sought to identify a more appropriate farming management practice for winter wheat production in Loess Plateau region of China. The experiment was conducted from 2011 to 2013, using a two-factor split plot design, including subsoiling(SS) or no tillage(NT) during summer fallow for main plots, and conventional drill sowing(DS) or plastic film drill sowing(FM) for subplots. Results showed that the maximum soil water storage(SWS) was under SS×FM treatment with values of 649.1 mm(2011–2012) and 499.4 mm(2012–2013). The SWS during the 2011–2012 growing season were 149.7 mm higher than that in the 2012–2013 growing season. And adoption of SS×FM significantly increased precipitation use efficiency(PUE) and water use efficiency(WUE) compared to other treatments for both seasons. Moreover, adoption of SS×FM significantly increased yield by 13.1, 14.4, 47.3% and 25.9, 39.1, 35.7% than other three treatments during the two growing seasons, respectively. In summary, combining subsoiling during summer fallow with plastic film drill sowing(SS×FM) increased SWS at sowing and effectively improved WUE, thus representing a feasible technology to improve grain yield of dryland winter wheat in the Loess Plateau of China.

Optimizing water and nitrogen inputs for winter wheat cropping system on the Loess Plateau,China

Optimal use of water and fertilizers can enhance winter wheat yield and increase the efficiencies of water and fertilizer usage in dryland agricultural systems. In order to optimize water and nitrogen （N） management for winter wheat, we conducted field experiments from 2006 to 2008 at the Changwu Agro-ecological Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the Loess Plateau, China. Regression models of wheat yield and evapotranspiration （ET） were established in this study to evaluate the water and fertilizer coupling effects and to determine the optimal coupling domain. The results showed that there was a positive effect of water and N fertilizer on crop yield, and optimal irrigation and N inputs can significantly increase the yield of winter wheat. In the drought year （2006-2007）, the maximum yield （Yma~） of winter wheat was 9.211 t/hm2 for the treatment with 324 mm irriga- tion and 310 kg/hm2 N input, and the highest water use efficiency （WUE） of 16.335 kg/（hm2.mm） was achieved with 198 mm irrigation and 274 kg/hm2 N input. While in the normal year （2007-2008）, the maximum winter wheat yield of 10.715 t/hm2 was achieved by applying 318 mm irrigation and 291 kg/hm2 N, and the highest WUE was 18.69 kg/（hm2.mm） with 107 mm irrigation and 256 kg/hm2 N input. Crop yield and ET response to irrigation and N inputs followed a quadratic and a line function, respectively. The optimal coupling domain was determined using the elas- ticity index （El） and its expression in the water-N dimensions, and was represented by an ellipse, such that the global maximum WUE （WUErnax） and Ymax values corresponded to the left and right end points of the long axis, respectively. Considering the aim to get the greatest profit in practice, the optimal coupling domain was represented by the lower half of the ellipse, with the Yma~ and WUE^ax on the two end points of the long axis. Overall, we found that the total amount of irrigation for winter wheat should not exceed 324 ram. In addition, our optimal coupling domain visually reflects the optimal range of water and N inputs for the maximum winter wheat yield on the Loess Plateau, and it may also provide a useful reference for identifying appropriate water and N inputs in agricultural applications.

Effect of Limited Single Irrigation on Yield of Winter Wheat and Spring Maize Relay Intercropping

A field experiment was conducted during the 2002/2003 cropping season of winter wheat （Triticum aestivum） and spring maize （Zea mays） to evaluate the effect of limited single drip irrigation on the yield and water use of both crops under relay intercropping in a semi-arid area of northwestern China. A controlled 35 mm single irrigation, either early or late, was applied to each crop at a certain growth stage. Soil water, leaf area, final grain yield and yield components such as the thousand-grain weight, length of spike, fertile spikelet number, number of grains per spike, and grain weight per spike were measured, and water use efficiency and leaf area index were calculated for the irrigated and non-irrigated relay intercropping treatments and sole cropping controls. The results showed that yield, yield components, water use efficiency, and leaf area index in the relay intercropping treatments were affected by limited single drip irrigation during various growth stages of wheat and maize. The total yields in the relay intercropping treatment irrigated during the heading stage of wheat and the heading and anthesis stage of maize were the highest among all the treatments, followed by that irrigated during the anthesis stage of wheat and silking stage of maize; so was the water use efficiency. Significant differences occurred in most yield components between the irrigated and non-irrigated relay-intercropping treatments. The dynamics of the leaf area index in the relay-intercropped or solely cropped wheat and maize showed a type of single-peak pattern, whereas that of the relay intercropping treatments showed a type of double-peak pattern. Appropriately, limited single irrigation and controlled soil water content level could result in higher total yield, water use efficiency, and leaf area index, and improved yield components in relay intercropping. This practice saved the amount of water used for irrigation and also increased the yield. Therefore, heading stage of wheat and heading and anthesis stage of maize were suggested to be the optimum limited single irrigation time for relay-intercropped wheat and maize in the semi-arid area.

The water-saving potential of using micro-sprinkling irrigation for winter wheat production on the North China Plain

The shortage of groundwater resources is a considerable challenge for winter wheat production on the North China Plain.Water-saving technologies and procedures are thus urgently required.To determine the water-saving potential of using micro-sprinkling irrigation(MSI)for winter wheat production,field experiments were conducted from 2012 to 2015.Compared to traditional flooding irrigation(TFI),micro-sprinkling thrice with 90 mm water(MSI1)and micro-sprinkling four times with 120 mm water(MSI2)increased the water use efficiency by 22.5 and 16.2%,respectively,while reducing evapotranspiration by 17.6 and 10.8%.Regardless of the rainfall pattern,MSI(i.e.,MSI1 or MSI2)either stabilized or significantly increased the grain yield,while reducing irrigation water volumes by 20–40%,compared to TFI.Applying the same volumes of irrigation water,MSI(i.e.,MSI3,micro-sprinkling five times with 150 mm water)increased the grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat by 4.6 and 11.7%,respectively,compared to TFI.Because MSI could supply irrigation water more frequently in smaller amounts each time,it reduced soil layer compaction,and may have also resulted in a soil water deficit that promoted the spread of roots into the deep soil layer,which is beneficial to photosynthetic production in the critical period.In conclusion,MSI1 or MSI2 either stabilized or significantly increased grain yield while reducing irrigation water volumes by 20–40%compared to TFI,and should provide water-saving technological support in winter wheat production for smallholders on the North China Plain.

Increasing rainfed wheat yield by optimizing agronomic practices to consume more subsoil water in the Loess Plateau

Erratic rainfall and misalignment between the rainy season and the growing season of winter wheat greatly limit rainfed winter wheat yield in the Loess Plateau of China. To increase the grain yield of winter wheat in this region, the effects of different agronomic practices, including adjusting planting pattern(NR, narrow row spacing), increasing seeding rate(high seeding rate, HS), decreasing basal nitrogen rate and increasing top-dressed nitrogen rate(DBN), and replacing an old cultivar with a new cultivar(NC) on wheat yield were investigated for two consecutive years. The results showed that the current grain yield of rainfed winter wheat in the Loess Plateau could be increased to 5879–7093 kg ha^(-1) by HS, DBN and NC practices relative to the practice of high-yielding farmers(PF). The increased yield due to HS, DBN and NC was attributed to the higher number of spikes ha^(-1), 1000-grain weight, and kernels spike^(-1). Before the flowering stage, HS increased soil water consumption(SWC) in 1–3 m subsoil due to the higher plant population compared with that of PF, whereas DBN decreased SWC in the 0–2 m soil layer compared with that of PF. After the flowering stage, HS, DBN, and NC increased SWC by 8–16 mm in 2–3 m subsoil compared to PF. The water use efficiency(WUE) was increased under DBN and NC in comparison with PF.However, the WUE did not increase under HS as it had the highest evapotranspiration among the five treatments. Increasing the use of subsoil water during the late growth stage by optimizing agronomic practices or applying new cultivars with expansive roots should be the primary approach to increase rainfed winter wheat yield in this region.

The Stimulating Effects of Rewatering on Leaf Area of Winter Wheat Suffering Water Stress

After water stress at various levels and durations at different growth stages, rewatering could greatly stimulate the leaf area development of winter wheat. The results showed that the stimulation effect changed with water stress time, degree and duration. Rewatering under earlier stress had greater stimulation effect on leaf area than that under later stress. Higher stimulation effect was observed under severe water stress than that under moderate stress. Longer duration of stress resulted in low stimulation effect. In spite of the greater stimulation effect under severe and longer stress, the final leaf area in these situations was lower than that under moderate stress and shorter duration. Whenever the stress occurred, the stimulating effect was due to the increase of the leaf area of the tillers. Once the leaf on the main stem emerged during stress period, rewatering had no effect on its size, and consequently its leaf area. The stimulation of rewateirng on leaf area contributed to the final grain yield by 45% under moderate stress, and 67% under severe stress. Although the stimulation partly compensated for the loss during stress, the final leaf area and the grain yield could not reach the level without water stress.

Photosynthetic characteristics of intercropped winter wheat under limited supplemental irrigation in the semiarid northwestern China

A field experiment was conducted for intercropped winter wheat （Triticum aestivum） in 2002/2003 to evaluate the effects of limited supplemental irrigation on photosynthetic characteristics of intercropped winter wheat in semiarid environment. The result indicated that significances occurred in grain yield between the intercropped wheat treatments and sole wheat control （CKW）, and in yield between the irrigated intercropped wheat plots （WC2W, WC3W, WC5W） and not irrigated （WC1W） except for WC4W plots with nearly the same yield as WC1W. In comparison with CKW, 11.8%, 18.5%, 23.6%, 11.5%, and 30.7% of yield increase in the intercropped wheat plots were obtained in WCIW, WC2W, WC3W, WC4W, and WC5W respectively. Compared to the intercropped wheat plots without irrigation, yields in WC2W, WC3W, and WC5W were improved by 5.9%, 10.5%, and 16.9%, respectively. The dynamics of CGR and NAR in both intercropped （WC1W-WC5W） and solely cropped wheat （CKW） showed a type of ＂single peak＂ curves, with both the maximum CGR and NAR occurred during jointing to heading （14/4-6/5） of wheat. In addition, soil water potential （SWP） fluctuated as a function of the precipitation and limited supplemental irrigation.

黄土旱塬区近40年降水对冬小麦耗水和产量的影响

冬小麦是黄土旱塬区重要口粮作物,产量受降水等因素影响较大,为研究降水对冬小麦耗水规律和产量的影响,收集、统计甘肃省农业科学院镇原试验站近40年冬小麦长期观测数据,分析冬小麦产量、耗水量等指标随降水变化的趋势。结果表明,黄土旱塬区近40年冬小麦产量以每年51.2 kg·hm^(-2)速度增加,但持续系数仅为0.43;10月中旬至11月中旬、3月中上旬、5月上旬和下旬降水量增加,产量随之显著增加;全生育期降水满足率为64.4%,干旱年型仅为52.7%,不同生育时期中拔节-灌浆期满足率最低。冬小麦生育期耗水量近40年呈降低趋势,平均为361.3 mm,播种-返青期耗水占全生育期的34.3%,为全生育期耗水最大的时期;干旱年和平水年分别在出苗-拔节期和拔节-灌浆期降水满足率最低,分别为36.9%和42.2%,此阶段降水对冬小麦产量影响显著。冬小麦产量相关的因素由高到低依次为耗水量>穗数>穗粒数>播前底墒>生育期降水量>全年降水量。近40年来黄土旱塬区冬小麦稳产性差,原因为播种-返青期耗水占全生育期比重较大,降水满足率低,影响了冬小麦分蘖成穗和水分高效利用。以上结果表明,保证该区冬小麦关键生育期降水满足率和休闲期降水高效蓄集,是冬小麦稳产高产的重要保障,研究结果对冬小麦产业可持续发展具有重要意义。

水氮运筹对滴灌冬小麦产量和水氮利用效率的影响

为探究水氮运筹对滴灌冬小麦产量和水氮利用效率的效应,于2019—2021年开展了连续2年小麦田间试验,设置2个施氮水平210(N1)和240(N_(2))kg·hm^(-2),4个灌水处理W1(不灌水)、W2(每次30 mm)、W_(3)(每次45 mm)、W_(4)(每次60 mm),分析不同处理小麦产量及水氮利用率相关指标。结果表明,2019—2021年,施氮量和灌水量对冬小麦抽穗期、扬花期和灌浆期叶片净光合速率的影响为极显著(P<0.01)或显著(P<0.05),且三个生育时期均以N_(2)W_(4)处理最高,与N1W_(4)和N_(2)W_(3)处理间没有显著差异;三个生育时期的土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量均以N_(2)W_(3)、N1W_(4)或N_(2)W_(4)处理最低。小麦越冬期、灌浆期和成熟期土壤铵态氮与产量和氮肥偏生产力(NPFP)均呈显著或极显著负相关;抽穗期、灌浆期和成熟期土壤硝态氮与产量和NPFP均呈显著或极显著负相关。2个年度,水氮运筹较对照显著提高了冬小麦的产量和水氮利用效率,产量增幅分别为38.9%~62.0%和40.9%~68.3%,水分利用效率(WUE)增幅分别为8.0%~15.7%和10.1%~16.4%,NPFP增幅分别为38.9%~62.0%和40.9%~65.5%;冬小麦产量和WUE均以N_(2)W_(4)处理最高,N_(2)W_(3)处理次之,两者间没有显著性差异;但N_(2)W_(3)处理的水分利用效率均显著高于N_(2)W_(4)处理。综上,在本试验条件下,施氮量240 kg·hm^(-2)、每次灌水45 mm(N_(2)W_(3))为该地区滴灌冬小麦最佳水氮运筹组合,可以实现保障产量和提高水氮利用效率的目标。

西北旱塬免耕的产量效应受降水特征和施肥显著影响

【目的】在冬小麦-夏春玉米轮作体系,研究不同降水年型条件下西北雨养农业区耕作与施肥对作物产量的影响,为西北旱塬作物高产稳产提供理论依据。【方法】基于2005年甘肃陇东旱塬设置的土壤耕作与培肥长期定位试验(3年冬小麦—1年春玉米),主处理为传统耕作和免耕,副处理为不施肥(CK)、单施氮肥(N)、单施磷肥(P)、单施农家肥(M)、氮磷配施(NP)和氮磷配施农家肥(NPM)。结合对冬小麦和玉米产量的分析,探究不同耕作与施肥处理下作物产量在不同降水年型的差异机制。【结果】降水年型、耕作和施肥方式显著影响冬小麦和玉米产量。无论何种降水年型或耕作方式,配施有机肥的NPM处理作物产量(冬小麦3441 kg/hm^(2),春玉米8991 kg/hm^(2))均显著高于其他施肥处理,并且NPM处理对作物的增产效果在丰水年型更为明显。在丰水年型,相对于传统耕作,免耕处理的作物产量无明显差异,但在干旱及平水年型下,免耕冬小麦平均产量分别下降了15.6%和25.7%,玉米平均产量分别下降了17.9%和4.6%;与传统耕作相比,免耕处理下的冬小麦和玉米水分利用效率在干旱年型分别下降了6.7%和17.0%,冬小麦水分利用效率在平水年型下降了24.0%。免耕处理下土壤有机质、全氮、全钾、速效氮、速效磷和速效钾含量显著高于传统耕作。【结论】在西北半干旱雨养农业区,干旱及平水年型免耕虽然提高了土壤养分含量,但降低了作物水分利用效率,这是导致作物产量降低的主要原因。因此,需要根据降水情况选择耕作方式,提高西北黄土旱塬作物产量的稳定性。

不同种植方式对高寒旱区地膜小麦耗水特征和产量的影响

于2019—2022年在陇中高寒旱区以裸地条播为对照(CK),设置全膜覆土穴播(FM)和膜侧沟播(FS)两种覆盖方式,研究不同覆盖种植方式对冬小麦耗水特性、生长发育及产量的影响。结果表明:与CK相比,FM和FS处理播种期~拔节期0~20 cm土层土壤温度分别平均提高3.1℃和2.1℃,灌浆期分别降低0.6℃和1.0℃。覆盖能不同程度提高冬小麦各生育期0~200 cm土层土壤含水量,其中出苗期、返青期、拔节期和灌浆期提高幅度均高于20%。与CK相比,FM处理返青后冬小麦耗水量平均显著提高29.2%,返青前显著降低42.4%;FS处理返青期~灌浆期耗水量提高12.6%,返青前降低25.7%。各处理冬小麦基本苗、分蘖数、公顷穗数、穗粒数、千粒重和产量均表现为FM>FS>CK,处理间差异显著,其中FM和FS处理产量分别较CK平均提高74.7%和45.4%;处理间耗水量差异不显著;FM处理水分利用效率最大,较CK平均提高67.3%,FS次之,较CK平均提高46.1%。综上,地膜覆盖可调节土壤水分状况,改善冬小麦生长发育和成穗情况,显著提高产量和水分利用效率,其中全膜覆土穴播调节效应优于膜侧沟播,是适宜在高寒旱区地膜小麦生产中推广应用的种植方式。