华北平原不同年代冬小麦品种灌浆特性对水分亏缺的响应

选取华北平原20世纪50年代以来的代表品种碧蚂1号、济南2号、泰山1号、冀麦26、冀麦38和济麦22,通过田间试验的方法研究了灌溉和雨养条件下不同年代小麦品种籽粒千粒重和灌浆特性的差异.结果表明:1)在灌溉和雨养条件下,小麦籽粒千粒重随品种的更替均呈逐渐增加的趋势,灌浆期天数和平均灌浆速率逐渐增加,其中速增期天数和灌浆速率的增加是当前小麦品种济麦22籽粒千粒重较高的主要原因;2)与灌溉条件相比,在雨养条件下不同年代小麦品种的籽粒千粒重、灌浆期天数和平均灌浆速率、速增期天数和灌浆速率均有所下降,但下降幅度存在差异,当前品种济麦22的下降幅度高于以前品种,对水分亏缺的敏感性较强.因此,在未来的小麦育种中,应更多地选育速增期天数多和灌浆速率高的品种,并提高其对水分亏缺的适应性.     

种植密度对两种穗型冬小麦旗叶氮代谢酶活性及籽粒蛋白质含量的影响

目的分析晚播对弱筋小麦氮素积累与利用的影响。方法以弱筋小麦品种扬麦13和宁麦13为材料,在不同氮素水平下(N210：210 kg/hm²、N270：270 kg/hm²)设置适播与晚播处理,分析弱筋小麦氮素积累与利用情况。结果弱筋小麦开花期植株氮素积累量主要来源于土壤氮(70.48%~85.51%);成熟期籽粒氮素积累量主要来源于土壤氮(74.35%~86.86%);成熟期营养器官氮素积累主要来源于肥料氮(52.88%~82.12%)。与适期播种相比,晚播显著增加了小麦成熟期单株氮素积累量、开花期来源于土壤氮的积累量、成熟期营养器官和籽粒来源于土壤氮及肥料氮的积累量。弱筋小麦花前营养器官积累氮素向籽粒的转运率为55.52%~79.78%,氮素积累转移的贡献率为38.91%~77.99%。适期播种处理下,花前营养器官氮素积累转运量、转运率与贡献率分别为23.47 mg/株、75.23%和71.46%,而晚播显著降低花前营养器官氮素积累转运量、转运率与贡献率(分别为19.87 mg/株、59.74%和50.31%)。各处理小麦氮肥生产效率为25.25~44.27 kg/kg,氮素利用效率为15.75%~41.43%,氮素收获指数为0.730~0.844。同一因素下不同水平比较表明：晚播显著降低籽粒产量、氮肥生产效率、氮素利用效率及氮素收获指数,但播期对籽粒蛋白质含量无显著影响。在相同品种和氮水平处理下,晚播较适期播种籽粒产量降低。结论弱筋小麦晚播不利于籽粒产量的提高和氮素利用效率的提高,因此为获得较高产量水平与氮素利用效率,应尽量保证弱筋小麦适宜播种期。     

施用生物炭对华北平原冬小麦土壤水分和籽粒产量的影响

为探究施用生物炭对华北平原农田土壤水分和冬小麦籽粒产量的影响,于2014—2017年在中国农业大学吴桥实验站设置施用生物炭7 200(BH)、3 600(BM)、1 800(BL)和0kg/hm~2(CK)4个处理。结果表明:与CK处理相比,BH、BM和BL处理3年平均增产分别为1.84%、7.28%和5.03%,并且降低了耗水量,水分利用效率分别提高5.96%～14.86%、9.42%～19.18%和5.96%～13.50%。同时施用生物炭增加了土壤含水量,与CK处理相比,土壤上层0～60cm BM处理增幅最大;中层60～120cm和下层120～200cm均为BL处理增幅最大(P0.05)。综上所述,施用生物炭可以增加土壤含水量和籽粒产量。统计分析表明,当施炭量分别为3 389～3 882和3 500～4 357kg/hm~2,0～60cm土层土壤含水量和籽粒产量均最高,且0～60cm土层土壤含水量与籽粒产量间存在显著的正相关关系(P0.05)。因此,施用生物炭可以增加土壤含水量,降低水分消耗,提高冬小麦籽粒产量和水分利用效率,在本试验条件下以施用3 000～4 500kg/hm~2为宜。     

烤烟节水灌溉的研究进展

目的明确云南玉溪烟区烤烟大田生育期适宜滴灌定额。方法2017年通过田间控水试验,以作物蒸散量(ET₀)为基础,设置4个参考需水量水平(50% ET₀、60% ET₀、80% ET₀和100% ET₀)和3个设计湿润比(P,0.4、0.5和0.6),共12个滴灌定额处理,考察不同滴灌定额对烤烟生长发育和水肥利用效率的影响。结果参考需水量水平对烤烟株高、茎干物质量以及氮肥和钾肥利用率有显著影响(P<0.05),对除株高以外的农艺性状、叶和全株干物质量以及灌溉水利用率有极显著影响(P<0.01);设计湿润比对烤烟叶干物质量、根冠比和灌溉水利用率有显著影响(P<0.05),对烤烟主要农艺性状、茎和全株干物质量有极显著影响(P<0.01);两者对烤烟叶片和全株干物质量以及灌溉水利用率的影响存在显著交互效应(P<0.05),对烤烟叶片数和株高的影响存在极显著交互效应(P<0.01)。不同灌溉定额处理中,以80% ET₀-0.5P处理烤烟成熟期生物量和农艺性状表现较优,氮、磷和钾肥及灌溉水利用率相对较高;与其他处理相比,其成熟期烤烟叶片和全株干物质量分别增加了14.6%~97.5%和4.3%~72.8%,氮肥和磷肥利用率分别提高了9.4%~84.2%和11.3%~178.1%。结论本试验条件下,该区域较为适宜的烤烟大田生育期滴灌灌溉定额为200 mm。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

施肥对冬小麦生理特性和籽粒产量的影响

采用裂区设计,研究了品种和肥料对冬小麦叶片主要生理参数和产量及水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,不同品种之间的净光合速率、蒸腾速率、籽粒产量有显著差异,但气孔导度、水分利用效率差异不明显。增施肥料提高了叶片光合速率,并且它与施肥水平和生育阶段有关。     

灌水对河西绿洲冬小麦产量及光合生理指标的影响

在河西绿洲生态条件下,研究了不同灌水处理对冬小麦产量及相关指标的影响.在冬水灌量相等的基础上分别在拔节期(J)、抽穗期(H)和灌浆期(F)设等量不等次、等次不等量共5种灌水处理,灌水量分别为J1650m3/hm2(W1)J、1200 m3/hm2+H1050 m3/hm2(W2)J、1050 m3/hm2+H1050 m3/hm2+F1050 m3/hm2(W3)、J750m3/hm2+H750 m3/hm2+F750 m3/hm2(W4)J、1050 m3/hm2+H750 m3/hm2+F450 m3/hm2(W5).结果表明:各处理间单位面积籽粒产量、穗粒数、千粒质量、水分利用效率(WUE)、叶面积指数(LAI)、光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)和叶片相对含水量(RWC)均存在着显著或极显著的差异.籽粒产量以灌水量最多的W3处理最高,适量减少灌水量可以提高WUE.不同灌水处理下影响产量的主要因素是千粒质量和穗粒数.产量与开花期Pn呈显著正相关,但与各测定时期的Pn均值呈显著负相关.株高、生物产量、千粒质量、穗粒数等农艺指标与Pn呈阶段性相关.Pn、Tr、Gs和叶片RWC的相关性随生育时期的不同而变化.     

Physiological response of flag leaf and yield formation of winter wheat under different spring restrictive irrigation regimes in the Haihe Plain,China

In order to identify the optimum period of spring water-restrictive irrigation for winter wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) in the Haihe Plain, China and elucidate its effects on flag leaf senescence and yield formation, field experiments were conducted at the Xinji Experimental Station of Hebei Agricultural University from 2016 to 2019 by using different irrigation regimes in spring, including the conventional regime involving two irrigation periods(control(CK), the 3-leaf unfolding stage and the anthesis stage) and a series of single, restrictive irrigation regimes(SRI) comprising irrigation at the 3-leaf unfolding stage(3 LI), 4 LI, 5 LI, and 6 LI. There are five major findings:(1) The senescence(determined by the green leaf area, GLA) in the 4 LI treatment occurred moderately earlier than that in CK, showed no significant difference with that in 5 LI and 6 LI, and occurred significantly later than that in 3 LI.(2) Compared with other SRI treatments, the GLA value and photosynthetic rate in 4 LI were 14.82 and 20.1% higher, respectively. Microstructural analysis of flag leaf also revealed that the mesophyll cells and chloroplasts were irregularly arranged under drought stress in 3 LI and 6 LI; however, drought stress had minimal negative effects on the microstructure in 4 LI and 5 LI.(3) Postponed irrigation in spring could significantly increase superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) activities in the early stage of grain filling; however, these activities would subsequently decrease. Among the four SRI treatments, the overall enzyme activities were the highest in 4 LI, and the combined malondialdehyde(MDA) content in flag leaves in 4 LI and 5 LI was 14.5% lower on average than that in 3 LI and 6 LI.(4) The soluble sugar(SS) and proline(Pro) contents in 4 LI were the highest among the four SRI treatments; however, they were lower than those in CK. The abscisic acid(ABA) hormone content in 4 LI and 5 LI was lower than that in 3 LI and 6 LI, respectively, suggesting a smaller drought stress effect in 4 LI and 5 LI.(5) In two growing seasons, there was a larger number of spikes per unit area in 4 LI(i.e., 13.4% higher than that in 5 LI and 6 LI) and the 1 000-grain weight in 4 LI was the highest among the four SRI treatments(i.e., 6.0% higher than that in the other three SRI treatments). Therefore, a single restrictive irrigation regime at the 4-leaf unfolding stage is recommended to be effective in slowing down the senescence process of flag leaves and achieving high yield.     

精准农业对华北平原冬小麦温室气体排放和产量的短期影响

本试验以京郊冬小麦田为研究对象,采用大田试验设置4个处理:CTF(常规整地+常规施肥)、PF(精准施肥)、LL(激光平地)、PF+LL(精准施肥+激光平地),采用静态箱-气相色谱法分析了不同农业措施下的土壤温室气体(CO_2、N_2O、CH_4)排放特征。结果表明:和CTF相比,LL冬小麦产量显著提高7.10%;降雨、灌溉后表层土壤含水率显著提高,冬小麦季土壤CH_4吸收量显著增加22%,土壤CO_2、N_2O累计排放量分别显著增加27.20%、8.81%。PF产量与CTF无显著差异;土壤N_2O排放峰出现在追肥后,PF排放峰值显著较CTF低15.41%,精准施肥至收获期间PF土壤N_2O显著减排15.05%,但整个冬小麦生长季PF土壤CO_2、N_2O累计排放量和CH_4累计吸收量与CTF均无显著差异。和CTF相比,PF+LL小麦产量显著提高8.2%,同时PF+LL土壤具备较好的持水性,雨季及灌溉后表层土壤含水率分别显著提高8.81%、7.63%,冬小麦生长季土壤CO_2累计排放量显著增加33.53%,CH_4吸收量显著增加31.5%,N_2O累计排放量无显著差异,但在精准施肥至收获期间土壤N_2O显著减排10.22%。综上,激光平地技术可显著增产但综合增温潜势较强,精准施肥技术对产量无显著影响,但降低了N_2O排放峰值,减少了精准施肥后的N_2O累计排放量,表现出一定的N_2O减排潜力。     

Nitrate leaching of winter wheat grown in lysimeters as affected by fertilizers and irrigation on the North China Plain

Proper application of nitrogen(N) fertilizers and irrigation management are important production practices that can reduce nitrate leaching into groundwater and improve the N use efficiency(NUE). A lysimeter/rain shelter facility was used to study effects of the rate of N fertilization, type of N fertilizer, and irrigation level on key aspects of winter wheat production over three growing seasons(response variables were nitrate transport, N leaching, and NUE). Results indicated that nitrate concentration in the soil profile and N leaching increased with the rate of N fertilization. At the end of the third season, nitrate concentration in the top 0–75 cm layer of soil was higher with manure treatment while urea treatments resulted in higher concentrations in the 100–200 cm layer. With normal irrigation, 3.4 to 15.3% of N from applied fertilizer was leached from the soil, yet no leaching occurred under a stress irrigation treatment. The manure treatment experienced less N leaching than the urea treatment in all cases except for the 180 kg N ha-1 rate in 2011–2012(season 3). In terms of grain yield(GY), dry matter(DM) or NUE parameters, values for the manure treatment were lower than for the urea treatment in 2009–2010(season 1), yet were otherwise higher for urea treatment in season 3. GY and crop nitrogen uptake(NU) were elevated when the rate of N fertilizer increased, while the NUE decreased; GY, DM, and NU increased with the amount of irrigation. Data indicated that reduced rates of N fertilization combined with increased manure application and proper irrigation management can lower nitrate levels in the subsoil and reduce potential N leaching into groundwater.     

Improvement in winter wheat productivity through regulating PSⅡ photochemistry,photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence under deficit irrigation conditions

Deficit irrigation is critical to global food production, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions with low precipitation. Given water shortage has threatened agricultural sustainability under the dry-land farming system in China, there is an urgent need to develop effective water-saving technologies. We carried out a field study under two cultivation techniques:(1) the ridge and furrow cultivation model(R); and(2) the conventional flat farming model(F), and three simulated precipitation level...     

不同类型小麦品种品质性状的生态变异

在江苏省6个小麦生态区，选用大面积推广的7个不同品质类型的专用小麦品种，研究了小麦籽粒品质性状的生态变异特点。结果表明：除籽粒淀粉含量不受环境主效应的影响外，其余各品质性状均受基因型和环境主效应以及二者互作效应的显著影响；籽粒蛋白质含量和面粉降落值受基因型和环境主效应的影响相近，而其余品质指标的基因型主效应明显大于环境效应。表明在江苏省优质小麦生产中，品质的遗传改良和深入的品质生态区划非常重要。不同品种在各生态点品质性状的表现趋势不同，可能导致品质区划结果不同，在品质生态区划研究中需引起重视。     

冬小麦谷粒产量,谷粒蛋白产量,谷粒蛋白含量和稳定性分析

基因型与环境的互作对基因型筛选具有重要作用,并且使品种筛选变得复杂.本文对法国27个冬小麦品种在27个生长环境中获得的试验数据进行了分析比较,同时对高谷粒产量(GY),谷粒蛋白产量(GPY),谷粒蛋白含量(GPC)和稳定性的几种方法进行了筛选:Kang秩和方法(指标1:相同权重的3种谷粒性状和Shukla稳定性方差δ2)以及5种衍生的秩和指标(指标2～6:3种谷粒性状高于δ2 2～6倍的权重),稳定性方差(s2)和回归系数(b),研究它们之间的秩相关性以及它们与3种谷粒性状的相关性.结果表明:3种稳定性统计δ2,s2和b对同时筛选3种谷粒性状指标和稳定性都是非常有用的方法.对于GPY的筛选,指标1秩和方法比稳定性方差s2略保守.指标2比指标1和稳定方差s2更好地筛选到高GY和高GPY.指标3,指标4,指标5和指标6更适合于初始筛选3种谷粒性状.所有的稳定性统计方法都能很好与3种谷粒性状秩相关.稳定性方差s2和回归系数b之间在除了GY之外的3种谷粒性状中秩相关性不高,稳定性方差δ2和稳定性方差s2之间在3种谷粒性状中都具有很强的秩相关性.3种稳定性统计在高产和低产的环境中重复性不高,同样,在2个年份之间的重复性也可以忽略.但是,在随机抽取的4个环境之间的重复性却非常高.     

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,I_0)during the whole growth period,once irrigation only at jointing stage(90 mm,I_1),and twice respective irrigation at jointing and anthesis stages(90 mm plus 90 mm,I_2),and two levels of S application including 0(S_0)and 60 kg ha~(–1)(S_(60))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.     

冬小麦浇灌与非浇灌处理下产量与产量因素的研究

用相关和通径分析法,对浇灌与非浇灌2种处理下的8个冬小麦品种(系)产量形成特点进行研究。结果表明:穗数对产量的直接贡献最大,产量性状与产量在相关程度上,以及产量性状对产量的作用大小有一定差异,株高、穗数、穗粒数与产量呈密切正相关,千粒重与产量呈负相关不显著。产量构成中穗数的作用较大。     

Growth and nitrogen productivity of drip-irrigated winter wheat under different nitrogen fertigation strategies in the North China Plain

Excessive application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is the main cause of N loss and poor use efficiency in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the North China Plain (NCP).  Drip fertigation is considered to be an effective method for improving N use efficiency and reducing losses, while the performance of drip fertigation in winter wheat is limited by poor N scheduling.  A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth, development and yield of drip-fertigated winter wheat under different split urea (46% N, 240 kg ha^–1) applications.  The six treatments consisted of five fertigation N application scheduling programs and one slow-release fertilizer (SRF) application.  The five N scheduling treatments were N0–100 (0% at sowing and 100% at jointing/booting), N25–75 (25% at sowing and 75% at jointing and booting), N50–50 (50% at sowing and 50% at jointing/booting), N75–25 (75% at sowing and 25 at jointing/booting), and N100–0 (100% at sowing and 0% at jointing/booting).  The SRF (43% N, 240 kg ha^–1) was only used as fertilizer at sowing.  Split N application significantly (P<0.05) affected wheat grain yield, yield components, aboveground biomass (ABM), water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP).  The N50–50 and SRF treatments respectively had the highest yield (8.84 and 8.85 t ha^–1), ABM (20.67 and 20.83 t ha^–1), WUE (2.28 and 2.17 kg m^–3) and NPFP (36.82 and 36.88 kg kg^–1).  This work provided substantial evidence that urea-N applied in equal splits between basal and topdressing doses compete economically with the highly expensive SRF for fertilization of winter wheat crops.  Although the single-dose SRF could reduce labor costs involved with the traditional method of manual spreading, the drip fertigation system used in this study with the N50–50 treatment provides an option for farmers to maintain wheat production in the NCP.     

Improving water use efficiency in grain production of winter wheat and summer maize in the North China Plain: a review

Reducing irrigation water use by improving water use efficiency (WUE) in grain production is critical for the development of sustainable agriculture in the North China Plain (NCP). This article summarizes the research progresses in WUE improvement carried out at the Luancheng station located in the Northern part of NCP for the past three decades. Progresses in four aspects of yield and WUE improvement are presented, including yield and WUE improvement associated with cultivar selection, irrigation management for improving yield and WUE under limited water supply, managing root system for efficient soil water use and reducing soil evaporation by straw mulch. The results showed that annual average increase of 0.014 kg·m^-3 for winter wheat and 0.02 kg·m^-3 in WUE were observed for the past three decades, and this increase was largely associated with the improvement in harvest index related to cultivar renewal and an increase in chemical fertilizer use and soil fertility. The results also indicated that deficit irrigation for winter wheat could significantly reduce the irrigation water use, whereas the seasonal yield showed a smaller reduction rate and WUE was significantly improved. Straw mulching of summer maize using the straw from winter wheat could reduce seasonal soil evaporation by 30–40 mm. With new cultivars and improved management practices it was possible to further increase grain production without much increase in water use. Future strategies to further improve WUE are also discussed.     

Improved simulation of winter wheat yield in North China Plain by using PRYM-Wheat integrated dry matter distribution coefficient

The accurate simulation of regional-scale winter wheat yield is important for national food security and the balance of grain supply and demand in China. Presently, most remote sensing process models use the “biomass×harvest index(HI)” method to simulate regional-scale winter wheat yield. However, spatiotemporal differences in HI contribute to inaccuracies in yield simulation at the regional scale. Time-series dry matter partition coefficients(Fr) can dynamically reflect the dry matter partition...