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Optimizing irrigation strategies to synchronously improve the yield and water productivity of winter wheat under interannual precipitation variability in the North China Plain

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  • Zhao, Jie
  • Han, Tong
  • Wang, Chong
  • Jia, Hao
  • Worqlul, Abeyou W.
  • Norelli, Nicole
  • Zeng, Zhaohai
  • Chu, Qingquan

Abstract

The optimization of irrigation strategies with the goal of increasing water utilization efficiency and achieving higher yield is an important farming practice that helps balance groundwater use and food security during water shortage periods in the North China Plain (NCP). In the present study, the AquaCrop model was used to simulate winter wheat yield, evapotranspiration (ET), water productivity (WPET), and irrigation water productivity (IWP) under seven irrigation strategy scenarios and three precipitation categories. The results revealed that the annual precipitation fluctuated significantly over the past 35 years (1981–2015), leading to considerably varied irrigation water requirements with an average of 292 mm. The water consumption intensity of winter wheat tended to shift to the middle growing stage with an increase during the tillering-stem elongation stage and stem elongation-anthesis stage. Two irrigations at the stem elongation and anthesis stages significantly increased yield, WPET, and IWP with values of 7.79 t ha−1, 1.72 kg m-3, and 2.20 kg m-3, respectively, compared with those under lower irrigation frequency treatments. However, a significant decrease in IWP and nonsignificant difference in yield was found when further increasing the irrigation frequency. Combining the yield, WPET, and IWP results, the recommended optimal irrigation strategies for different precipitation categories are one irrigation at the anthesis stage for wet years with yield, WPET, and IWP values of 6.95 t ha−1, 1.49 kg m-3, and 1.73 kg m-3, respectively; two irrigations at the stem elongation and anthesis stages for normal years, which emphasizes meeting the water requirement during the tillering-stem elongation and heading-milk stages; and two irrigations for dry conditions/low precipitation, with emphasis on water requirements during the tillering-stem elongation stage. In conclusion, optimizing irrigation strategies according to precipitation categories can synchronously achieve the goals of increasing water utilization efficiency and achieving higher yield with respect to interannual precipitation variability, which promises to be a sustainable agricultural practice.

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  • Zhao, Jie & Han, Tong & Wang, Chong & Jia, Hao & Worqlul, Abeyou W. & Norelli, Nicole & Zeng, Zhaohai & Chu, Qingquan, 2020. "Optimizing irrigation strategies to synchronously improve the yield and water productivity of winter wheat under interannual precipitation variability in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:240:y:2020:i:c:s0378377419319250
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106298
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    4. Wang, Bo & van Dam, Jos & Yang, Xiaolin & Ritsema, Coen & Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong, 2023. "Reducing water productivity gap by optimizing irrigation regime for winter wheat-summer maize system in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
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    7. Xin Zhang & Jianheng Zhang & Jiaxin Xue & Guiyan Wang, 2023. "Improving Wheat Yield and Water-Use Efficiency by Optimizing Irrigations in Northern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, July.
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