Open Access
ARTICLE
Effects of Multi-Stage Continuous Drought on Photosynthetic Characteristics, Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat
Daoxi Li1,*, Ruitao Lou1, Yanbin Li1, Zepeng Bian1, Ya’nan Zhu2
1 School of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
2 Changshu River Management Office, Changshu, 215500, China
* Corresponding Author: Daoxi Li. Email:
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2020, 89(3), 691-703. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2020.010661
Received 17 March 2020; Accepted 30 April 2020; Issue published 22 June 2020
Abstract
A drought event can cause entire crops to fail or yield loss. In order to
study the effects of continuous drought on photosynthetic characteristics, yield,
and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat (
Triticum aestivum L.), the winter wheat variety “Aikang 58” was selected as test material with controlling the
water of the pot-planted winter wheat under a mobile rainout shelter. Based on
foot planting and safe wintering, winter wheat was evaluated under different
drought conditions, including light, moderate and severe drought at the jointing
(B), heading (C), and filling (G) stages. The soil water content was controlled
in a range of 60% to 70%, 50% to 60%, and 40% to 50% of the field capacity,
respectively. In the experiment, there were 9 single-stage droughts, 3 three-stage
droughts, and 1 test control (totaling 13 trials). The results are as follows: Under a
single-stage drought, the change of net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs) have similar trends, and they both decrease significantly with the
severity of the drought. Under three-stage continuous droughts, the change curve
of Gs shows a constant downward trend; the change curve of Pn showed a “valley
shape,” and the minimum value of Pn appeared at the heading stage. All droughts
will reduce the yield of winter wheat. Under the three-stage continuous drought
conditions, except for light drought, moderate drought and severe drought will
cause significant yield reduction, mainly due to lack of water at the jointing
and heading stages. Continuous drought will reduce the WUE, and the difference
will reach a significant level under moderate and severe drought. The present
results suggested that when water resources are scarce, it is a better irrigation
model to save water and achieve high grain yield by applying appropriate water
stress (60%–70% FC) during the critical growth period of winter wheat.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Li, D., Lou, R., Li, Y., Bian, Z., Zhu, Y. (2020). Effects of Multi-Stage Continuous Drought on Photosynthetic Characteristics, Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat.
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, 89(3), 691–703.