Effects of Irrigation Practices and N Addition Rates on Wheat Nutrient Accumulation and Utilization in Dryland

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Soil Science

Background:

• Irrigation and nitrogen (N) fertilization are crucial for wheat production.
• Understanding their combined effects on nutrient use efficiency and yield in dryland conditions is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the comprehensive effects of different irrigation practices and N addition rates on wheat yield, nutrient accumulation, and utilization in dryland environments.
• To determine optimal strategies for enhancing wheat production and nutrient use efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Field experiment with two irrigation levels (zero-irrigation W0, one-off irrigation W1) and four N rates (N0, N120, N180, N240 kg N ha⁻¹).
• Evaluation of wheat grain yield, yield components, N, P, and K accumulation, translocation, uptake efficiency, and fertilizer partial factor productivity.
• Data collected over two growing seasons (2021-2022 and 2023-2024).

Main Results:

• One-off irrigation with 180 kg N/ha (W1N180) significantly increased wheat grain yield (46.4%), spike number (35.9%), and grains per spike (18.9%) compared to no irrigation and no N (W0N0).
• Maximum yield and N, P, K accumulation occurred at N180 or N240 rates.
• W1N180 optimized N, P, and K accumulation, pre-anthesis N and P translocation, and nutrient use efficiency, outperforming other combinations.
• N180 showed better N uptake efficiency and partial factor productivity than N240 under one-off irrigation.

Conclusions:

• A strategy combining one-off irrigation with 180 kg N/ha (N180) is highly effective for enhancing wheat yield and nutrient use efficiency in dryland farming.
• This integrated approach improves nutrient accumulation, translocation, and overall crop performance.
• Rational coordination of irrigation and N fertilization is key to sustainable and productive dryland agriculture.