Evaluation of yield, quality and water productivity of bread wheat cultivated under supplemental irrigation strategies in semi-arid conditions

Background and aims: Water shortage is the main restricting factor for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, whereas irrigation is the most effective measure to reduce water stress and increase winter wheat grain yield. However, irrigation strategies with high grain yield and water productivity (WP) are needed under scarce-water resources conditions such as the Konya Plain. Methods: For this purpose, a field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of different supplemental irrigation strategies on grain yield, quality and irrigation water productivity (IWP) of bread wheat in the Konya Plain of Türkiye. The supplemental irrigation strategies were irrigation during jointing (J), irrigation during jointing and heading (JH), irrigation during jointing, heading and milking (JHM). These strategies were tested under four different irrigation levels such as full, 90, 70 and 50 mm, and a no irrigation (rainfed) treatment was added as control. Results: The results of this research revailed that the highest grain yields were obtained under JHM50, JHM70, JHM90 and JHMF treatments, and among the JHM70, JHM90, and JHMF irrigation treatments, there were no significant differences in grain yield. Moreover, JHM70 treatment saved 34.6% (110 mm) and 22.2% (60 mm) of total irrigation water, respectively, compared to JHMF and JHM90 treatments. The two-year average WP and IWP of JHM70-treated bread wheat increased by 19.8% and 43.8% respectively, compared with JHMF. The study findings showed that as irrigation frequency increased, grain quality factors relatively decreased, and the highest grain quality factors were achieved under Rf treatment. Conclusions: In conclusion, JHM could be suggested to obtain high grain yield, WP, IWP, and water saving under normal years in Konya Plain. On the other hand, JHM treatment saved 28.6% of irrigation water with only about 4.8% grain yield loss as compared to JHM. Therefore, JHM can be suggested as an alternative irrigation treatment for stable winter wheat production with limited water resources in the Konya Plain.