Root vertical distribution is important to improve water use efficiency and grain yield of wheat

Abstract The winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) production of the North China Plain is threatened by increasing water shortages. Therefore, the invention of effective irrigation techniques is crucial to maintain high yields of winter wheat through improved water use efficiency (WUE). In this study, field experiments were carried out in the North China Plain region in 2012–2013 and 2013–2014. Based on the soil moisture regulation at sowing to ensure the normal emergence of the winter wheat, four supplemental irrigation (SI) regimes were set up: no-irrigation after emergence (T1), SI at jointing and anthesis (T2), SI at sowing, jointing and anthesis (T3), and SI at pre-wintering, jointing and anthesis (T4). The results showed that the root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RAD), and root weight density (RWD) in the 0–0.2 m soil layer from T2 increased rapidly after jointing and were significantly higher than those from T3 and T4 at anthesis. Those of T2 in the 0.6–0.8 m and 0.8–1.0 m soil layers were also significantly higher at anthesis. T2 was significantly higher than T1 in the photosynthetic rate (P n ) and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE leaf ) of flag leaves, post-anthesis dry matter accumulation (DMA), contribution of DMA to grain (CDMA), grain yield and WUE, but lower than T1 in the pre-anthesis dry matter remobilization efficiency (DMRE) and contribution of DMR to grain (CDMR). T2 had significantly lower plant populations and dry matter at jointing, P n and WUE leaf at 28 days after anthesis, DMA and CDMA, but higher dry matter increase rate after jointing, tiller survival rate, DMR, DMRE, CDMR and WUE. The combined effect of these differences enabled T2 to have yield that was not significantly different to T4. In summary, SI at joining and anthesis that was based on suitable soil water content at sowing increased the absorbing area of roots in both deep and surface soil layers; accelerated the dry matter accumulation after jointing; increased the P n and WUE leaf of flag leaves, DMA and DMR; and finally achieved a high grain yield and higher WUE. However, excessive irrigation reduced the WUE by inhibiting the redistribution of dry matter, although the WUE leaf of flag leaves was still increased.