Effects of Irrigation on Grain Quality Traits and Yield of Yumai 50 at Two Seasons with Different Soil Water Storage

In order to investigate the effects of different irrigations on grain quality traits and yield of winter wheat cultivar (Yumai 50, a weak gluten), experiments with shielding from rainfall during all growing stages were conducted for 2002~2003 growing season with poor soil water storage (470.23 mm) in the 2m soil layer before sowing and 2003~2004 with rich water storage (673.76 mm)at the Luoyang Arid Land Experiment Station of China Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The results indicated that the wet gluten content, water absorption, stability time, area, extensibility and ratio etc. at the rich soil water storage before sowing were better than that at the poor soil water storage. The effects of irrigation on grain quality traits at the poor soil water storage before sowing were stronger than that at the rich soil water storage. The effects of irrigation on every quality traits were different. The regulating effects of irrigation on quality traits were analyzed in two growing seasons with different soil water storage in accord with the quality traits of weak gluten wheat. It was showed that quality traits with 4 time irrigations were better than that with one irrigation at heading under the rich soil water storage before sowing. That quality traits with 4 time irrigations and no irrigation were fine under the poor soil water storage before sowing. The grain yield and water consumption at the rich soil water storage before sowing were higher than that at poor soil water storage, but the WUE(water use efficiency) at the rich soil water storage before sowing was lower. The water consumption increased and WUE declined with increasing irrigation, the grain yield increased with increasing irrigation but descended with overabundance. The paper showed that it was important to prepare proper soil water content before sowing. Some suggestions were also put forward for harmonizing high yield, quality and high efficiency in wheat cultivation under different soil water storage before sowing.