Effects of stage water shortage on water consumption and leaf area index of winter wheat

In order to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources and adjust the usage of water resources reasonable in North China Plain, experiments were carried out to study the stage water shortage of fresh water in Nanpi ecological experimental station of Chinese Academy of Science in Hebei Province. The results showed that, the crop would suffer water stress in both current and later growth stages when irrigation of certain growth stage was cancelled. Compared to stage water shortage, the influence of dry farming to leaf area index and yield was maximum. However, the leaf area index decrease at water shortage stage was not the largest. Instead, the decrease was significant at post water shortage stage. Taking into account of water conservation and crop growth, the influence of water shortage in grain-filling stage irrigation was minimal on both leaf area index and yield. It is concluded that stage dificiency irrigation is an important water conservation approach in fresh water resource deficient region.