Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs

Optimizing farmers’ crop production management is an effective strategy to synergize yields, resource utilization, and environmental conservation. However, the mechanisms by which agronomic management in the North China Plain (NCP) determines the wheat yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and physiolo...

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Main Authors: Jiayu Ma, Chong Shang, Xuecheng Zhang, Baozhong Yin, Wenchao Zhen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1053
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author Jiayu Ma
Chong Shang
Xuecheng Zhang
Baozhong Yin
Wenchao Zhen
author_facet Jiayu Ma
Chong Shang
Xuecheng Zhang
Baozhong Yin
Wenchao Zhen
author_sort Jiayu Ma
collection DOAJ
description Optimizing farmers’ crop production management is an effective strategy to synergize yields, resource utilization, and environmental conservation. However, the mechanisms by which agronomic management in the North China Plain (NCP) determines the wheat yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and physiological performance remain largely unexplored. To address this knowledge gap, a field experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2024 to investigate the effects of conventional farmer practices (CK) and a Integrated High-Yield and Efficiency Cultivation Management (HHL) strategy incorporating pre-sowing soil moisture creation, optimized tillage, fertilization, and irrigation on the yield, water consumption characteristics, leaf photosynthetic physiology, and root traits. The results demonstrated that HHL significantly enhanced the root morphology in winter wheat compared to CK. Specifically, HHL increased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll content, and leaf area index (LAI) at the flowering stage by 20.5%, 8.8%, and 11.1%, respectively, thereby boosting dry matter accumulation by 40.3% and yields by 10.9%. Furthermore, HHL reduced soil water evaporation by 12.1% and the total water consumption by 112.1 mm, while improving the WUE by 25.4% and nitrogen fertilizer partial productivity by 38.7%, alongside a 12.5% increase in economic benefits. Through rigorous field experimentation, this study elucidates the potential of HHL in water conservation, yield enhancement, and comprehensive benefit improvement, offering an effective cultivation paradigm for the wheat production systems in the NCP. The findings indicate that this management strategy exhibits superior water-saving and yield-enhancing effects, with promising prospects for widespread adoption and application.
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spelling doaj-art-71e5716f5ad64e1bbee21c2a6c11a89e2025-08-20T02:33:43ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-04-01155105310.3390/agronomy15051053Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer InputsJiayu Ma0Chong Shang1Xuecheng Zhang2Baozhong Yin3Wenchao Zhen4State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation/Key Laboratory of North China Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province/College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, ChinaState Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation/Key Laboratory of North China Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province/College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, ChinaState Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation/Key Laboratory of North China Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province/College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, ChinaCollege of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, ChinaState Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation/Key Laboratory of North China Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Key Laboratory of Crop Growth Regulation of Hebei Province/College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, ChinaOptimizing farmers’ crop production management is an effective strategy to synergize yields, resource utilization, and environmental conservation. However, the mechanisms by which agronomic management in the North China Plain (NCP) determines the wheat yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and physiological performance remain largely unexplored. To address this knowledge gap, a field experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2024 to investigate the effects of conventional farmer practices (CK) and a Integrated High-Yield and Efficiency Cultivation Management (HHL) strategy incorporating pre-sowing soil moisture creation, optimized tillage, fertilization, and irrigation on the yield, water consumption characteristics, leaf photosynthetic physiology, and root traits. The results demonstrated that HHL significantly enhanced the root morphology in winter wheat compared to CK. Specifically, HHL increased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll content, and leaf area index (LAI) at the flowering stage by 20.5%, 8.8%, and 11.1%, respectively, thereby boosting dry matter accumulation by 40.3% and yields by 10.9%. Furthermore, HHL reduced soil water evaporation by 12.1% and the total water consumption by 112.1 mm, while improving the WUE by 25.4% and nitrogen fertilizer partial productivity by 38.7%, alongside a 12.5% increase in economic benefits. Through rigorous field experimentation, this study elucidates the potential of HHL in water conservation, yield enhancement, and comprehensive benefit improvement, offering an effective cultivation paradigm for the wheat production systems in the NCP. The findings indicate that this management strategy exhibits superior water-saving and yield-enhancing effects, with promising prospects for widespread adoption and application.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1053agronomic managementwinter wheateconomic benefitwater use efficiency
spellingShingle Jiayu Ma
Chong Shang
Xuecheng Zhang
Baozhong Yin
Wenchao Zhen
Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs
Agronomy
agronomic management
winter wheat
economic benefit
water use efficiency
title Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs
title_full Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs
title_fullStr Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs
title_full_unstemmed Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs
title_short Optimized Agronomic Management in North China Plain to Maintain Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Yield While Reducing Water and Fertilizer Inputs
title_sort optimized agronomic management in north china plain to maintain wheat i triticum aestivum i l yield while reducing water and fertilizer inputs
topic agronomic management
winter wheat
economic benefit
water use efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1053
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