Effects of different irrigation modes on water consumption and yield of winter wheat in the piedmont plain of Taihang Mountain

Objective To study the effects of different irrigation modes on water consumption and yield of winter wheat in the sloping plain in front of Taihang Mountain, and provide a reference for optimizing the appropriate agricultural water-saving irrigation mode in the study area.

Method In this test, three irrigation modes of shallow buried drip irrigation, surface drip irrigation and pipe irrigation and different irrigation quotas (the irrigation levels for drip irrigation were set at 60%ET_C, 80%ET_C and 100%ET_C, the irrigation levels for pipe irrigation were set at 80%ET_C, 100%ET_C and 120%ET_C, ET_C is crop irrigation requirement) were combined and compared. The irrigation infiltration, meteorology, evaporation and soil water content at different depths in different experimental plots were monitored, and the distribution characteristics of soil water content, crop growth, water consumption and yield under different irrigation modes were compared and analyzed.

Result The water consumption of winter wheat was shallow buried drip irrigation<surface drip irrigation<pipe irrigation. Under the same irrigation amount, the growth and yield of winter wheat under shallow buried drip irrigation and surface drip irrigation were obviously better than those under pipe irrigation. Comprehensively considering the yield and water consumption of winter wheat, compared with pipe irrigation (SY8, traditional irrigation mode), the water consumption of shallow buried drip irrigation mode SY1 as well as surface drip irrigation modes SY4 and SY5 with higher yield saved 376.5, 253.5 and 591.0 m³·hm⁻², respectively. Shallow buried drip irrigation mode SY1 yielded higher than surface drip irrigation mode SY5, demonstrating comprehensive advantages in both water consumption and crop yield. Therefore, before further optimizing water-saving techniques, shallow buried drip irrigation mode SY1 was recommended as an optimal water-saving irrigation mode for the study area.

Conclusion The water-saving irrigation mode SY1 effectively reduces groundwater extraction, alleviates the current situation of regional groundwater overexploitation, and can provide data support for the next demonstration and promotion of agricultural water-saving technology.