Effects of Irrigation and Sulphur Application on Grain Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Winter Wheat

The objective of this study was to explore the interaction effect between irrigation and S application on water consumption,dry matter accumulation and grain yield of winter wheat. Field experiments were conducted in 2011-2012 during wheat growth seasons under field conditions. Three water regimes were arranged with no irrigation( rained,W0) during the whole growth period,only once irrigation at jointing stage( W1),and twice irrigation at jointing stage and at anthesis stage( W2),as well as two levels of S application were arranged with 0kg·hm- 1( S0) and 60kg·hm- 1( S60). The results showed that grain yield of wheat and field water consumption increased with increase in irrigation frequency during,but crop water use efficiency gradually decreased. Under the condition of W2,W1 and W0,sulfur compared with no sulfur,the dry matter accumulation,grain yield,water use efficiency( YWUE) and precipitation water use efficiency( PWUE) of winter wheat were significantly improved Among treatments, the dry matter accumulation and yield maximum of S60W2 were 22 082 and 8 087kg·hm- 2; but no significant difference with S60W1.The maximum of YWUE is S60W0,15. 42kg·hm- 2·mm- 1; the maximum of WUEI is S60W1,105. 09kg·hm- 2·mm- 1. Therefore,we concluded that S 60kg·hm- 1combined with only once irrigation during the jointing stage would increase grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat under conditions of proportion fertilization and proper moisture in ploughed soil layer before sowing wheat.