Yield and Water Use of Wheat as Influenced by Early Irrigation at Maricopa, 1987

Abstract

When the first irrigation in wheat is applied early, it is usually done to bank or save water for later in the season. On the other hand, when the first irrigation is applied late, it is done to force deep rooting. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of an early irrigation and an early stress period on yield and water use of two durum wheat cultivars when subjected to water stress during the grain fill period. Grain yield of Westbred 881 was not influenced by irrigation treatment, but the grain yield of Aldura was higher with early irrigation rather than early stress. Part of this response may be explained by the poorer stand and the lower stem number of Aldura compared to Westbred 881 under early stress conditions. Water use later in the season was unaffected by irrigation treatment. Early irrigation did not save water for later in the season, and early stress did not improve the plant's ability to extract deep moisture under the conditions of this study.