Planting Pattern and Irrigation Effects on Water‐Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat

Abstract

The world food demand is expected to double by 2050 and the availability and quality of irrigation water is declining because of the needs of the expanding population combined with the effects of climatic change. Therefore, productivity and water‐use efficiency (WUE) are crucial issues in the production of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The objective of this field study was to compare and evaluate the soil water characteristic, evapotranspiration (ET), yield, and yield components to identify possible ways to improve WUE of winter wheat in the North China Plain. The field experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replicates was conducted during 2008 to 2009 and 2009 to 2010. There were three planting patterns: traditional flat seedbed with uniform row spacing of 25 cm, wide–narrow row spacing of 40‐cm and 20‐cm flat seedbed and furrow‐ridge seedbed; three irrigation treatments: 90, 135, and 180 mm. The results showed that planting pattern and irrigation had significant effect on ET, yield components, grain yield, and WUE (P < 0.05); however, interaction between planting pattern and irrigation only had a significant effect on yield (P < 0.01). Compared with the conventional flat uniform planting pattern, the new treatment of furrow‐ridge seedbed planting pattern increased WUE by 13.7%, increased grain yield by 9.7%, reduced ET by 3.4%, increased soil water content (SWC) by 7.7%, increased soil water storage (SWS) by 6.8%, and increased yield components (grains per spike 15.0%, thousand‐grain weight [TGW] by 3.2%). Irrigation increased upper SWC, SWS, and ET, but decreased WUE. Compared with 90‐mm irrigation treatment, 135‐mm irrigation treatment increased grain yield by 6.4%. The findings suggest that application of the furrow‐ridge seedbed planting pattern combined with 135‐mm irrigation may be an effective strategy to improve winter wheat production in water‐scarce regions.

Surfactant effect on forage yield and water use efficiency for berseem clover and basil in intercropping and limited irrigation treatments

“…The highest total dry matter yield (mean for two years) of 9257.9 kg ha −1 was gained from intercropping of berseem clover + 50% basil with surfactant application, supported by a report from Wang et al (2014). The results indicate that interaction between planting pattern and surfactant application has a significant effect on yield (Fig.…”

Planting pattern and irrigation effects on water status of winter wheat

“…The furrow-ridge seedbed planting pattern resulted in higher winter wheat yield, grains/spike and thousand grain weight when irrigated at 135 or 180 mm rather than the 90 mm irrigation treatment, and there were no significant differences between yield, spikes/m 2 , grains/spike and thousand grain weight of 135 mm with those of 180 mm irrigation treatment in 2009/ 10. However, the irrigation level of 135 mm resulted in a larger increase in yield than the 180 mm irrigation treatment (Wang et al 2014). Furthermore, leaf water use efficiency of the 135 mm irrigation treatment was greater than that of the 180 mm irrigation treatment.…”

“…The wheat yield was significantly positively correlated with soil water content, stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, leaf water potential, grains/spike and thousand grain weight, which corresponded with the results of Wang et al . (2014). The furrow–ridge seedbed planting pattern resulted in higher winter wheat yield, grains/spike and thousand grain weight when irrigated at 135 or 180 mm rather than the 90 mm irrigation treatment, and there were no significant differences between yield, spikes/m 2 , grains/spike and thousand grain weight of 135 mm with those of 180 mm irrigation treatment in 2009/10.…”

“…Wang et al . (2014) showed that the furrow planting pattern significantly increased soil water content, thousand grain weight and grain yield of winter wheat relative to conventional and uniform row planting patterns. Bed planting significantly improved yield of inter-cropped pulses, i.e.…”

Water-Use Efficiency: Advances and Challenges in a Changing Climate

“…They found that the presence of the wheat residue increased rainfall-use efficiency by 50% because of the reduced soil water evaporation. Wang et al (2014) evaluated planting pattern and irrigation on wheat in the North China Plain and found a combination of furrow ridge planting combined with 135 mm of irrigation increased WUE by nearly 14% and suggested that this strategy would provide a more efficient production system in water-limited environments. Ibrahim et al (2015) showed that mulching and micro-dosing of NPK fertilizer increases WUE in low-input agriculture in a semi-arid climate.…”