Radiation use efficiency of winter wheat in different planting patterns and irrigation frequencies in the North China Plain

Winter wheat grain yield is connected with radiation use efficiency (RUE). A suitable planting pattern and irrigation strategy are essential for optimizing RUE. In order to investigate the effects of planting patterns and irrigation frequency on winter wheat RUE, a field study was conducted with two planting patterns and three irrigation frequencies. The two planting patterns were wide-precision (WP) and conventional-spacing (CS). The three irrigation frequencies were irrigated 120 mm at jointing stage, 60 mm each at jointing and heading stages, and 40 mm each at jointing, heading, and milk stages. The results showed leaf area index (LAI) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in WP than in CS. In addition, the LAI in WP decreased with the increase in irrigation frequency. Under the same irrigation frequency, the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) interception and dry matter were higher in WP than in CS. In WP, reduced irrigation frequency significantly increased the PAR interception at 60 cm above the ground surface. The largest grain yield and highest RUE was found in WP when plants were irrigated twice. The results indicate WP in combination with irrigated 60 mm each at jointing and heading stages maximized the winter wheat grain yield and RUE.