The effects of winter waterlogging on the growth, development and yield of UK varieties of winter wheat
2005
Climate change models predict an increase in the amount and intensity of winter
rainfall in the UK. A series of experiments using both container grown plants and
field trials was undertaken, to investigate the effect of winter waterlogging on the
growth, development and yield of current varieties of winter wheat. The interaction
of waterlogging with other factors such as summer drought, seed rate, and sowing
date was also investigated. In the field, waterlogging decreased plant population, and
uptake of nitrogen over winter from 50 kg/ha to 25 kg/ha. Plants formed new porous
nodal roots, which were able to penetrate below the water level. All the varieties
tested had a good ability to recover from damage by waterlogging. Plant dry weights
per area of waterlogged plots were 50% of controls at the end of treatment in March,
75% at anthesis and 85-90% at harvest. In all varieties except Xi-19, recovery was
due to increased number of tillers per plant, a higher proportion of which survived to
form an ear. Xi-19 increased the number of grains per ear and the weight of
individual grains. Waterlogging early in the season (autumn and early winter) killed
more plants, but allowed longer for surviving plants to recover and compensate.
Spring waterlogging caused the greatest decrease in grain yield. Sowing in
September allowed autumn and spring tillering, thus two chances for compensatory
growth. November sown plants did not tiller until spring, and if waterlogging
occurred at this time yields were especially poor. Waterlogging did not make crops
more vulnerable to subsequent drought or lodging, but the incidence of take-all and
stem-base disease did appear to increase. Despite the lack of disparity in tolerance,
varieties did appear to have different responses to waterlogging. Varieties with a
higher growth rate and demand on resources due to weaker winter dormancy (Xi- 19)
appeared to suffer more leaf chlorosis than those with a stronger dormancy (Claire).
Deben had good ability to recover due to its high tillering rate in spring, and had the
largest yield. Hereward showed the smallest decrease in yield, but had the lowest
yield under control and waterlogged conditions. It was hoped that it would be
possible to find a simple screening method to identify tolerant varieties at an early
stage. Unfortunately plant appearance during waterlogging was not predictive of
final yield. Research into stress tolerance has tended to concentrate on identifying
`stress genes' but in this case it appears that multi-gene traits are more important in
determining crop yield.
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