Management practice to optimize wheat yield and water use in changing climate

ABSTRACT

Field experiments for six seasons (2008–2013) for present time slice (PTS; 2008–2013) and simulation studies for mid-century (MC; 2021–2050) were carried out to assess different planting dates, varieties and irrigation schedules in addressing the impact of climate change on grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). During field experimentation, WUE (averaged over other treatment) was unaffected by planting date; however, it was 6% higher in late variety (V₁) than early variety (V₂). Simulation study suggested that in MC, increase in maximum and minimum temperatures compared to PTS would reduce wheat yield by 17–27%. In MC, WUE would be reduced by 14.8% due to shortening of crop duration (1–11 days). The reduction in WUE could be ascribed to relatively more reduction in yield (22%) than evapotranspiration (ET) (4%). The WUE in MC3 (2041–2050) was relatively more than MC1 (2021–2030) and MC2 (2031–2040) due to more yield and less ET. Delaying planting date of wheat crop by 15–30 days in this region emerged as the best adaptation measure to tackle climate change impact for sustaining yield and having higher WUE in MC.     

Zinc Deficiency in Rainfed Wheat in Pakistan: Magnitude,Spatial Variability,Management, and Plant Analysis Diagnostic Norms

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a widespread micronutrient disorder in crops grown in calcareous soils; therefore, we conducted a nutrient indexing of farmer‐grown rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. Pak‐81) in 1.82 Mha Potohar plateau of Pakistan by sampling up to 30 cm tall whole shoots and associated soils. The crop was Zn deficient in more than 80% of the sampled fields, and a good agreement existed between plant Zn concentration and surface soil AB‐DTPA Zn content (r=0.52; p≤0.01). Contour maps of the sampled areas, prepared by geostatistical analysis techniques and computer graphics, delineated areas of Zn deficiency and, thus, would help focus future research and development. In two field experiments on rainfed wheat grown in alkaline Zn‐deficient Typic Haplustalfs (AB‐DTPA Zn, 0.49–0.52 mg kg^?1), soil‐applied Zn increased grain yield up to 12% over control. Fertilizer requirement for near‐maximum wheat grain yield was 2.0 kg Zn ha^?1, with a VCR of 4∶1. Zinc content in mature grain was a good indicator of soil Zn availability status, and plant tissue critical Zn concentration ranges appear to be 16–20 mg kg^?1 in young whole shoots, 12–16 mg kg^?1 in flag leaves, and 20–24 mg Zn kg^?1 in mature grains.     

Effect of nitrogen and wheat residue on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield and weed control

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues and nitrogen (N) management are the major problems in the southern part of Iran where irrigated wheat–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat rotation is a common practice. A 2-year (2009–2011) field experiment was conducted as a split plot design with four replications at a cotton field (Darab), Fars Province, Iran, to determine the influence of different rates of wheat residue (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%) incorporation and N rates (150, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha^?1) on weed suppression, yield, and yield components of cotton. Results showed that a higher residue incorporation and a lower N rate improved weed suppression in both years. For treatments receiving 150 kg N ha^?1 and 75% of wheat residues (2250 kg ha^?1), weed biomass and density were significantly lower compared to treatments receiving 400 kg N ha^?1. The highest cotton lint yield (about 2400–2700 kg ha^?1) was obtained by 300 kg N ha^?1 in the absence of residue application, in both years. Incorporation of 25% of wheat residue (750 kg ha^?1) and application of 300 kg N ha^?1 are recommended to guarantee an optimum level of cotton lint yield and weed suppression in a wheat–cotton–wheat rotation in this region.     

Climate change impacts modeling on winter wheat yield under full and deficit irrigation in Myandoab-Iran

In this research, impact of climate change on wheat yield was simulated using SWAP in Myandoab, Iran. Field data of wheat in 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 periods were used for calibration and validation of the SWAP, respectively. The HadCM3 outputs, for A1B, A2 and B1 scenarios and 2046–2065 periods, were used in SWAP and wheat yield in mentioned period was compared with base period. Three irrigation levels, based on meeting 100, 70 and 50% of the crop ET demand, were used to study the climate change effects on wheat yield in full and deficit irrigation conditions. The results showed that temperature and reference evapotranspiration will increase in 2055s. Temperature increase cause to decrease crop growing period and crop evapotranspiration. The results showed that the negative impact of temperature increase has dominated to the positive impact of CO₂ concentration and the yield is reduced. For full irrigation situation, the reduction will be 24.1, 22.4 and 20.8% in A1B, A2 and B1, respectively. Reduction in yield can be related to the shorter maturity period of the crop. The results showed that under deficit irrigation, the yield is also decreased but this decrease rate of yield is higher in full irrigation.     

Zinc Efficiency of Wheat Cultivars Grown on a Saline Calcareous Soil

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a yield limiting constraint for wheat production in central Iran. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (1999/2000 and 2000/2001) to study Zn use efficiency of five wheat cultivars. Two Zn rates were used, i.e., 0 and 40 kg Zn ha^?1 applied as zinc sulfate. Significant variation was found among wheat cultivars in relation to grain yield, straw yield, Zn use efficiency and yield components. Based on grain yield and Zn use efficiency across two years, cultivar Cross was most efficient and Dur-3 was most inefficient for Zn use efficiency. Cultivars Kavir, Falat, and Rushan were intermediate in Zn use efficiency. Zinc concentration and uptake were higher in the zinc efficient cultivar Cross, while these values were lowest in the Zn inefficient cultivar Dur-3.     

Comparison of Different Methods of Estimating Saffron Yield Based on Soil Properties in Golestan Province

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of the relationship between soil properties and saffron yield estimation may contribute to agricultural planning in finding suitable lands for the growth of this valuable product. This study aimed to investigate the performance of artificial neural network (ANN), multiple linear regression (MLR), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in terms of saffron yield estimation in some lands of Golestan province, Iran. To this end, 100 areas under saffron cultivation were selected. For rapid and low-cost saffron yield estimation, six different models were designed based on soil properties as inputs using MLR, ANN, and ANFIS methods. According to the results, ANN showed the highest accuracy (R² = 0.58–0.89) in estimating saffron yield as compared to MLR (R² = 0.41–0.47) and ANFIS (R² = 0.41–0.69) models. A comparison of the results obtained from the six models defined in these three methods indicated that Model 4 (R² _Reg = 0.45, R² _ANFIS = 0.57, R² _ANN = 0.87), with the inputs, organic phosphorus, potassium, and calcium carbonate, was the best model in terms of accuracy and speed in estimating saffron yield phosphorus. The RI indexes for ANN in the model were 50% and 34% relative to MLR and ANFIS, respectively, demonstrating the higher accuracy of ANN in saffron yield estimation. The study results can be used to identify lands suitable for saffron cultivation in the study area using organic phosphorus and organic matter levels in the soil.     

Comparing System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) with standard recommended practices in the northwestern plain zone of India

The practices of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methodology have been extended to wheat and various other crops with reported good results. To assess such reports with respect to wheat, an experiment was conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2011–2012 and 2012–2013. This experiment compared the performance of wheat under System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) and standard recommended practices (SRPs). In 2011–2012, the SWI yield of 7.93 t ha^?1 was 30% higher than for SRP in 2012–2013, climatically a less favorable year, hence SWI performed relatively better with a 46% yield advantage under climate stress. SWI produced 12.5% less in the stressful year, while the reduction for the SRPs ranged from 18% to 31%. Differences in yield attributes and root traits were also observed in favor of SWI. Available N, P, and K in the soil after harvesting was increased with SWI, whereas depletion in nutrients with the SRPs indicated the scope for SWI sustaining soil fertility. Higher yield compensated for higher SWI costs of cultivation. A net return of US$ 1383 ha^?1 was obtained with SWI, 35% more than the US$ 1020 ha^?1 from SRPs. Overall, SWI outperformed the SRPs in terms of yields, climate resilience, and economics.     

Cumulative Effect of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients on Yield,Nutrients Uptake and Economics by Rice–Wheat Cropping System in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

ABSTRACT

Field experiments were conducted for 2 years in sandy loam soil, to study the direct effect of organic manures i.e. sewage sludge (SS), vermicompost (VC) and sesbania (SB) and chemical fertilizers on rice (Oryza sativa) and their residual effect on wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown in sequence in winter (Rabi) and summer (Kharif) season during 2015–2016 to 2016–2017 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Residual effect of organic sources of nutrients as SS, VC and SB were monitored up to fourth crop (II wheat) in sequence applied in conjunction with 75% recommended dose of fertilize (RDF). Among the nutrient sources, the maximum grain yield in I rice (4.89 t ha^?1), II rice (4.95 t ha^?1), was recorded in treatment T₃ (100% RDF with S, Zn, B) whereas in I wheat (4.68 t ha^?1) and II wheat (4.59 t ha^?1), it was recorded in T₄ (customized fertilizer). The maximum straw yield during all four crops was recorded in T₃ (100% RDF with S, Zn, B) in rice and T₄ (customized fertilizer) in wheat crop, which showed 25, 32, 23 and 28% increase over 100% RDF (T₂). Application of 100% RDF along with S, Zn, B and customized fertilizer increased the total uptake of N, P, K, S and B and also in net returns and B:C ratio followed by organic treatments.     

Increased Dryland Winter Wheat Yields by Nitrogen Fertilizer Topdressing and its Relationship to Soil Moisture,Available N,P and K in Northwestern China

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in northwestern China as a monoculture is hampered by unfertile soil and drought. With the fast-developing Chinese chemical fertilizer industry, many farmers now use more nitrogen (N) fertilizer as topdressing for winter wheat in early spring, in addition to a basal dose of N fertilizer applied in the previous autumn at seeding time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the increase in grain yield of dryland winter wheat by early spring N fertilizer topdressing, and its relationship to soil moisture, available N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Field experiments with no N fertilizer topdressing (F_b) and N fertilizer topdressing (F_b+t) treatments were carried out over two growing seasons at 54 site-years to assess the relationship between increase in winter wheat grain yield by early spring N fertilizer topdressing and soil moisture, available N, P and K in Changwu county, Shaanxi province, China. Compared to F_b treatment, the F_b+t treatment produced grain yields lower at 10 site-years, and increased by <10% at 21 site-years and by >10% at 23 site-years. The results indicated that topdressing N fertilizer could increase wheat grain yield when soil nitrate-N accumulation in the 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm depths was less than 121.7, 36.4 and 24.1 kg N ha^?1, and soil moisture content in the 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm depths was more than 15.7%, 16.7% and 16.9%, respectively. The findings also suggested that it is not necessary to analyze soil for ammonium-N, available P and K before topdressing N fertilizer. It is necessary to analyze 0–60 cm soil profile for nitrate-N and 40–100 cm depth for soil moisture before topdressing N fertilizer for winter wheat in dryland areas of northwestern China.     

Yield and yield components of two irrigated red bean cultivars and some soil properties as influenced by wheat residues and nitrogen management

Crop residues are beneficial substances affecting crop production and soil properties. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue rates (0, 25, 50 and 75%) combined with N levels (0, 34.5, 69, 103.5 kg ha^?1) on yield and yield components of two red common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars and to monitor chemical soil parameters. The experiment was conducted at Research Center, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran for two years (2008–2009). The experiment was conducted as a split–split plot arranged in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The highest seed yield was obtained when 25–50% of residues were incorporated. The highest seed yield, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight and seed number per pod were obtained with 103.5 kg N ha^?1 with no significant difference to 69 kg N ha^?1. Residue incorporation significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) as well as available K and P content. It is possible to sow red common bean as a double cropping by soil incorporation of 25–50% wheat residues with application of 69 kg N ha^?1.     

Water use efficiency of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under intermittent ponding and different intensity of puddling

Abstract

To increase the water use efficiency (WUE) of rice, two sets of experiments were carried out from 1997 – 1999. Experiment one: Irrigation period of rice was divided into three stages: early (S₁, 10 – 35 days after transplanting, [DAT]); middle (S₂, 36 – 60 DAT) and late (S₃, 61 – 85 DAT). Intermittent ponding (IP) was imposed at single, two stages or the entire growing period. Continuous ponding (CP) in all three stages was taken as control. Though the highest grain yield (6.71 mg ha^?1) was obtained under control, this regime was responsible for the lowest WUE. In contrast, IP in all stages was responsible for maximum WUE with minimum yield level. Imposition of IP in S₁ resulted in higher (0.529 kg m^?3) WUE along with insignificant reduction in yield over control. Experiment two: Three puddling practices were: (i) High intensity puddling (HIP); (ii) Moderate intensity puddling (MIP); and (iii) Low intensity puddling (LIP). On average, HIP resulted in the lowest value (6.5 mm d^?1) of percolation rate. Both grain yield (6.93 mg ha^?1) and WUE (0.597 kg m^?3) attained highest value under HIP. A decrease in puddling intensity under MIP and LIP lowered the yield by 2.97 and 17.75% respectively. In the case of WUE, the reduction was 16.27 and 54.66%.     

Olive mill wastewater spreading and AMF inoculation effects in a low-input semi-arid Mediterranean crop succession

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to evaluate, in a marginal semi-arid Mediterranean agro-ecosystem (Sicily-Italy), the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and raw olive mill wastewater (OMW) (40 and 80 m³ ha^?1) on forage (durum wheat-snail medick intercropping) yield, and grain production of broad bean and chickpea. AMF inoculation significantly increased (+13.6%) forage dry biomass and durum wheat nitrogen (+22.8%) and phosphorus (+32.5%) uptake. AMF inoculation, significantly promoted broad bean phosphorus uptake (+11.5%) and root nodule number (+13.9%) in the absence of OMW. OMW spreading reduced weeds in the forage (?31.3%), root nodule number (?29.7%) and dry weight (?22.7%) in broad bean. OMW also significantly increased snail medick dry biomass (+19.3%) as compared to control treatments (0, 40 and 80 m³ H₂O ha^?1, average production 361 g m^?2), and broad bean grain yield with a production of 2.46 ± 0.12 and 1.94 ± 0.09 Mg ha^?1 with and without OMW, respectively. During the experiment AMF colonization was not affected by OMW volumes. The results obtained showed that in a marginal Mediterranean agro-ecosystem: 1) OMW, notwithstanding spreading volumes, is a valuable amendment to maximize legume yield while 2) AMF inoculation is a valuable practice to improve biomass production and N and P uptake in wheat.     

Effect of Zinc Humate on Growth of Soybean and Wheat in Zinc‐Deficient Calcareous Soil

Abstract

Humic acids have many benefits for plant growth and development, and these effects may be maximized if these materials are combined with micronutrient applications. In the present study, pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc (Zn) humate and ZnSO₄ on growth of wheat and soybean in a severely Zn‐deficient calcareous soil (DTPA‐Zn: 0.10 mg kg^?1 soil). Plants were grown for 24 (wheat) and 28 days (soybean) with 0 or 5 mg kg^?1 of Zn as either ZnSO₄ or Zn humate. Zinc humate used in the experiments was obtained from Humintech GmbH, Germany, and contained 5% of Zn. When Zn was not supplied, plants rapidly developed visible symptoms of Zn deficiency (e.g., chlorosis and brown patches on young leaves in soybean and necrotic patches on middle‐aged leaves in wheat). Adding Zn humate eliminated Zn‐deficiency symptoms and enhanced dry matter production by 50% in soybean and 120% in wheat. Zinc‐humate and ZnSO₄ were similarly effective in increasing dry matter production in wheat; but Zn humate increased soybean dry matter more than ZnSO₄. When Zn was not supplied, Zn concentrations were 6 mg kg^?1 for wheat and 8 mg kg^?1 for soybean. Application of Zn humate and ZnSO₄ increased shoot Zn concentration of plants to 36 and 34 mg kg^?1 in wheat and to 13 and 18 mg kg^?1 in soybean, respectively. The results indicate that soybean and wheat plants can efficiently utilize Zn chelated to humic acid in calcareous soils, and this utilization is comparable to the utilization of Zn from ZnSO₄. Under Zn‐deficient soil conditions, plant growth and yield can be maximized by the combined positive effects of Zn and humic acids.     

Greenhouse gases emission,soil organic carbon and wheat yield as affected by tillage systems and nitrogen management practices

Agricultural activities are responsible for greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission in the environment. Strategies are required to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) sequestration to adapt and mitigate the climate change. We investigated GHGs emission, SOC and N enhancement under conventional tillage (CT) and zero tillage (ZT) with N management in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Seasonal carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission and global warming potential (GWP) reduced for ZT treatments over CT without residues and 100% of required N with a blanket split application (CT – R + 100N). The ZT with 5 t ha^?1 maize (Zea mays L.) residues retention and 75% of required N and GreenSeeker^TM (GS)-aided N management (ZT + R + 75N + GS) reduced yield-scaled GHGs emission and increased total organic carbon (C) stock over CT – R + 100N. However, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission was lower in CT. The GS-based N management saved 26–35 kg N ha^?1 in different tillage systems in both years over blanket application with higher N uptake and associated reduction in N₂O emission. The study recommends that ZT with residues retention and GS-based N management can minimize the GHGs emission and improve the SOC.     

Modelling the variability of UK sugar beet yields under climate change and husbandry adaptations

In the future, UK summers are likely to be warmer and drier. Modelling differential water redistribution and uptake, we assessed the impact of future drier climates on sugar beet yields. Weather was generated for 1961–1990 (BASE) and predictions based on low‐ and high‐emission scenarios (LO, HI) described in the most recent global climate simulations by the Hadley Centre, UK. Distributions and variability of relative soil moisture deficit (rSMD) and yield gap (drought‐related yield loss, YG_dr = 1?actual yield/potential yield), and sugar yield were calculated for different time‐lines using regional weather, soil texture and management inputs. The rSMD is estimated to exceed the senescence threshold with a probability of 75% (2050sLO) to 95% (2080sHI) compared with 65% (BASE). The potential yield loss, YG_dr, is likely to increase from 17% (BASE) to 22% (2050sLO) to 35% (2080sHI). However, increasing potential growth rates (CO₂ × temperature) cause average sugar yields to rise by between 1.4 and 2 t ha^?1 (2050sLO and 2050sHI respectively). Yield variation (CV%) may increase from 15–18% (BASE) to 18–23% (2050s) and 19–25% (2080s). Differences are small between regions but large within regions because of soil variability. In future, sugar yields on sands (8 t ha^?1) are likely to increase by little (0.5–1.5 t ha^?1), but on loams yields are likely to increase from 11 to 13 t ha^?1 (2050sHI) and 15 t ha^?1 (2080sHI). Earlier sowing and later harvest are potential tools to compensate for drought‐related losses on sandy soils.     

Can barley (Hordeum vulgare L. s.l.) adapt to fast climate changes? A controlled selection experiment

The projected future climate will affect the global agricultural production negatively, however, to keep abreast of the expected increase in global population, the agricultural production must increase. Therefore, to safeguard the future crop yield and quality, the adaptive potential of crops to environmental change needs to be explored in order to select the most productive genotypes. Presently, it is unknown whether cereal crops like spring barley can adapt to climate stressors over relatively few generations. To evaluate if strong selection pressures could change the performance of barley to environmental stress, we conducted a selection experiment over five plant generations (G0–G4) in three scenarios, where atmospheric [CO₂] and temperature were increased as single factors and in combination. The treatments represented the expected environmental characteristics in Northern Europe around year 2075 [700 ppm CO₂, 22/17 °C (day/night)] as well as a control mimicking present day conditions (390 ppm CO₂, 19/12 °C). Two different barley accessions, a modern cultivar and an old landrace, were evaluated in terms of yield and biomass production. In all treatments representing future environmental scenarios, the G4-generation of selected plants did not improve its reproductive output compared to the G0-generation, as G4 produced less seeds and had a lower yield than unselected plants. These results indicate that barley might not respond positively to rapid and strong selection by elevated [CO₂] and temperature, contrary to previous results from oilseed rape. The two barley accessions analyzed presented almost the same response pattern in a given treatment, though the modern cultivar had the highest yield in the climate scenarios, while the landrace was superior in yield under present day climate conditions.     

Relative Efficiency of Zinc Sulfate and Zinc Oxide–Coated Urea in Rice–Wheat Cropping System

Abstract

Rice–wheat cropping system covers about 24 million hectares in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and zinc deficiency is widespread in rice–wheat belts of all these five countries. The current practice of applying zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O) to soil is problematic because of the poor quality of the nutrients available in the market to the farmers. Zinc (Zn)–coated urea is therefore being manufactured to guarantee a good‐quality Zn source. This article reports the results from a field study conducted to study the relative efficiency of zinc sulfate and zinc oxide (ZnO)–coated ureas in rice–wheat cropping system. The highest grain yield of rice–wheat cropping system was obtained with 2.0% coating of urea. Zinc sulfate was also a better coating material than ZnO. Partial factor productivity, agronomic efficiency, apparent recovery, and physiological efficiency of applied Zn decreased as the level of Zn coating was increased.     

1961—2010年气候变化对西南冬小麦潜在和 雨养产量影响的模拟分析

利用农业气象试验站作物资料及土壤资料,评价 APSIM-Wheat 模型在西南地区的适应性,应用该模型分析该地区1961—2010年冬小麦潜在和雨养产量的时空变化特征,通过逐步回归分析揭示小麦生长季主要气象因子对潜在产量和雨养产量的影响及相对贡献率。研究结果表明： APSIM 模型对该区5个常用小麦品种的模拟效果较好,模拟与实测生育期的均方根误差(RMSE)在7.0 d 以内,地上部分生物量和产量模拟值与实测值的归一化均方根误差(NRMSE)均低于25%,模型在西南地区具有较好的适应性。1961—2010年研究区域36%的站点冬小麦生长季总辐射显著降低,其中北部、东南部和南部中区最显著;68%的站点生长季≥0℃有效积温显著增加,西部增温显著;30%的站点生长季平均气温日较差显著减小,南部中区最显著;全区生长季总降水大面积减少但不显著,减少区主要位于最南端和东南部。模拟的冬小麦潜在产量在65%的站点呈显著减产趋势,南部中区和北部变化最明显;雨养产量在25%的站点显著降低,北部地区较明显,全区减产趋势较弱。减产显著的站点中,生长季辐射降低、温度升高、气温日较差减小对潜在产量降低的贡献率分别为45%、36%和2%,对雨养产量降低的贡献率分别为36%、39%和－8%,而降水减少对雨养产量降低的贡献率为7%。西南冬小麦生长季辐射降低、温度升高及降水减少共同导致了冬小麦潜在和雨养产量的显著下降,而气温日较差的降低对冬小麦潜在和雨养产量的影响分别表现为负作用和正作用,整体上辐射和温度的影响程度最大。     

Yield production and water-use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars under shallow groundwater use in semi-arid region

As a free water resource, groundwater is extensively used for agricultural purposes. This is sometimes referred to as underground irrigation. Two-year lysimetric experiments from 2009 to 2011 were conducted in order to determine the effects of different shallow water table levels without any supplementary irrigation on water requirements, yield production and water-use efficiencies of three wheat cultivars namely W33g, Cross Alborz and Bahar. The experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block factorial experiment design with three replicates at the Razi University Lysimetric Research Station, Iran. Nine treatments were applied to each experiment by maintaining groundwater EC of 5 dS m^?1, with different water table levels of 0.6, 0.80 and 1.10 m, respectively. The results showed the highest and lowest groundwater uses by wheat for water table depths of 0.6 m and 1.10 m, during the experimental years, respectively. For all wheat cultivars, the average groundwater contributions were found to be 70.90% (5 mm day^?1), 67.85% (4.3 mm day^?1) and 63.4% (3.6 mm day^?1) for water table levels of 0.60, 0.80 and 1.10 m, respectively. Finally, the results showed the highest yield production and groundwater-use efficiency under water table levels of 0.80 m for all the three wheat cultivars.     

Mitigation of nitrous oxide emissions from paddy soil under conventional and no-till practices using nitrification inhibitors during the winter wheat-growing season

The net effect of no-till techniques on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions is inconsistent and poorly quantified in comparison to conventionally tilled farming. This study assesses N₂O emissions and yields from paddy fields during the wheat-growing season under conventional and no-till farming, as well as mitigation of N₂O evolution using dicyandiamide and chlorinated pyridine (CP) as nitrification inhibitor (NI). Both tillage practices and NIs significantly (P?<?0.01) affected cumulative N₂O emissions and yields. In comparison to conventional tillage, the cumulative N₂O emissions under no-till farming were increased by 8.2–19.3 % and the water-filled pore space was higher on most days. Relative to no-tillage, the conventional tillage averagely increased the wheat yield by 6.0 % and reduced yield-scaled N₂O–N emission by 44.5 %. The two NIs averagely increased the wheat yield by 9.7 % and reduced yield-scaled N₂O–N emission by 67.7 %. The treatment with CP produced the highest yield with the lowest N₂O emissions, thus leading to the lowest yield-scaled N₂O–N emission (0.15–0.17 kg N₂O–N t^?1 grain yield) under both tillage practices.