Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Root-Shoot Development and Grain Yield of Winter Wheat
In order to investigate the optimal water-saving and high-efficient irrigation patterns of winter wheat in North China Plain, during 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 winter wheat growing seasons, 3 irrigation treatments were conducted, i.e., irrigated 120 mm only at jointing stage (T1), irrigated 120 mm only at heading stages (T2), and irrigated 60 mm each at jointing and heading stages (T3), respectively, to study the effect of deficit irrigation on root-shoot development and grain yield of winter wheat in North China Plain. The results showed that under the condition of irrigated 120 mm during the winter wheat growing season, the treatment which irrigated 60 mm each at jointing and heading stages, the leaf area index significantly (LSD, P<0.05) increased at milky stage, which was mainly due to increase the leaf area index at 0-20 and more than 60 cm above the ground surface. The 2 growing season results revealed that dry matter accumulation at maturity stage in T3 was significantly (LSD, P<0.05) higher than those in T1 and T2. Compared with T2, the root length density in T1 and T3 were significantly (LSD, P<0.05) higher below the ground surface 50 cm. The results indicated that irrigated 60 mm each at jointing and heading stages during the winter wheat growing seasons, grain yield was the highest, which could be attributed to significantly (LSD, P<0.05) increase the spike numbers. Under the condition of irrigated 120 mm during the winter wheat growing seasons in North China Plain, it is suggests that winter wheat should be irrigated 60 mm each at jointing and heading stages, to achieve reasonable water use efficiency and grain yield.