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Effects of drip irrigation on post-anthesis dry matter accumulation and grain-filling characteristics of winter wheat under subsoiling tillage

ZHANG Yan-Yan1,2, LI Ying1,2, LIU Xu-Chen1, HUANG Chao1,2, LYU Jia-Ning1,2, ZHOU Hai-Jia1,3, MA Shou-Tian1,2, QIN An-Zhen1,2, GAO Zi-Le4, WU Guang-Hui4, CHEN Dan4, JI Xia-Nan4, LIU Zhan-Dong1,2,*   

  1. 1 Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China; 2 Institute of Western Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, Xinjiang, China; 3 School of Agriculture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China; 4 Henan Yudong Water Conservancy Security Center, Kaifeng 475000, Henan, China
  • Received:2025-04-06 Revised:2025-07-09 Accepted:2025-07-09 Published:2025-07-16
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (2022FY101601), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (ASTIP), and the Key Project of Water Conservancy Science and Technology in Henan Province (GG202247).

Abstract:

The development and widespread adoption of agricultural mechanization in the North China Plain have led to issues such as soil compaction and thickening of the plow layer, which in turn restrict crop growth. Subsoiling tillage is an effective method to break the plow pan, improve the soil environment within the tillage layer, and promote crop growth. However, in some regions, irrational irrigation practices have diminished the soil-improving benefits of subsoiling. To elucidate the positive effects of subsoiling on dry matter accumulation in winter wheat, this study employed border irrigation with a lower limit of 70% field capacity under both subsoiling (ST) and rotary tillage (RT). Under the subsoiling condition, three drip irrigation lower limits—70% (DI-H), 60% (DI-M), and 50% (DI-L) of field capacity—were set, with irrigation triggered when the soil moisture reached the respective threshold. Using ST as the control, the effects of different lower limits on post-anthesis dry matter accumulation and grain filling characteristics were evaluated to determine the optimal drip irrigation strategy under subsoiling. Results showed that compared with RT, ST significantly enhanced post-anthesis dry matter accumulation and grain filling, extending the durations of post-anthesis dry matter accumulation (Tdry) and grain filling (Tgrain) by 5.15 d and 0.87 d, respectively. ST also increased the rates of both processes, resulting in a 9.7% increase in final biomass. Among the subsoiling treatments, DI-H prolonged Tdry by 15.05 d compared with ST, but reduced the average post-anthesis dry matter accumulation rate (Bmean) by 0.10 t·hm?2 d?1, leading to no significant difference in total dry matter accumulation. However, DI-H extended Tgrain by 2.56 d and increased grain weight by 22.1% (P < 0.05). The DI-M treatment extended Tdry by 8.45 d without significantly affecting Bmean, resulting in a 15.7% increase in post-anthesis dry matter accumulation (P < 0.05). In addition, DI-M extended Tgrain by 3.64 d, increased maximum grain filling rate (Gmax) by 0.18 mg grain?1 d?1, and improved grain weight by 20.9% (P < 0.05). In contrast, DI-L shortened both Tdry and Tgrain by 5.22 and 3.27 d, respectively, compared with ST, and reduced both Gmean and Bmean by 0.06 mg grain?1 d?1 and 0.05 t hm?2 d?1, ultimately lowering biomass and grain weight by 17.6% and 12.3% (P < 0.05), respectively. A comprehensive evaluation using the TOPSIS method indicated that DI-M had the highest overall score, suggesting that a lower irrigation threshold of 60% field capacity is the optimal drip irrigation regime for winter wheat under subsoiling. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for developing rational irrigation strategies under subsoiling conditions.

Key words:

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