Grain yield and quality of winter wheat in different planting patterns under deficit irrigation regimes

Limited water resources restrict winter wheat grain yield and quality in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of North China, and establishing optimal planting patterns according to crop water requirements is the key factor for achieving rational water use. In this paper, 4 planting patterns were applied, namely, uniform row (30 cm; traditional pattern), wide (40 cm)-narrow (20 cm) row, furrow (double lines in the furrow with 20 cm spacing, and 40 cm between furrows), and seed bed (double lines on the bed with 20 cm spacing, and 40 cm between beds). Each planting pattern was irrigated twice during the jointing and heading stages, and total irrigation water was controlled at 120 mm. Grain yield was significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) higher in the furrow planting pattern than in the uniform row, widenarrow row, and seed bed planting patterns, by 73.4, 64.3, and 53.4 g/m2, respectively, in 2004–2005 and by 54.3, 42.6, and 30.2 g/m2, respectively, in 2005–2006, mainly because of a significant (LSD, P < 0.05) increase in the spike and kernel numbers. These results were caused by changes in the contribution of dry matter remobilization to grain yield (CDMRG); the CDMRG was higher in the furrow planting pattern than in the uniform row, wide-narrow row, and seed bed planting patterns by 5.1%, 4.3%, and 2.9%, respectively. Gliadin and glutenin contents in the furrow planting pattern were 4.67% and 5.85%, respectively, and were significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) higher than those in the uniform row, wide-narrow row, and seed bed planting patterns; however, the furrow planting pattern had no significant (LSD, P < 0.05) effect on albumin and globulin contents. Dough development time (DDT) and dough stable time (DST) in the furrow planting pattern were 5.6 min and 8.8 min, respectively; they were significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) improved compared to those in the uniform row, wide-narrow row, and seed bed planting patterns; however, there were no significant (LSD, P < 0.05) differences in dough breakdown time (DBT) between any of the planting patterns. These results suggest that the furrow planting pattern combined with deficit irrigation during the jointing and heading stages can be applied to winter wheat production in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of North China.