Ma et al. (2026) Yield–water trade-offs of deficit irrigation in wheat in China: A meta-analysis across irrigation-reduction intensities and production levels

Identification

• Journal: Agricultural Water Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-17
• Authors: Jiayu Ma, Xi Xiao, Baozhong Yin, Liying Guan, Yuqiao Lv, Sitian Wang, Xiaoyuan Bao, Wenchao Zhen
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110701

Research Groups

• College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, PR China
• College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, PR China
• State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
• State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Baoding, Hebei 071001, PR China
• Key Laboratory of North China Water saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Baoding, Hebei 071001, PR China

Short Summary

This study conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation on wheat grain yield, actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act), water productivity (WP), and yield components in China. The results showed that deficit irrigation significantly reduced grain yield, ETc act, spike number (SN), grain number per spike (GNPS), and thousand-grain weight (TGW), while WP was not significantly affected.

Objective

• Evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation on wheat grain yield, actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act), water productivity (WP), and yield components in China.
• Quantify how production level, irrigation-reduction intensity, and irrigation-reduction timing regulate yield formation and water-related traits under deficit irrigation.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Field experiments conducted in different regions of China.
• Temporal Scale: Long-term studies with multiple experimental years.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified.
• Data sources: Field experiments, satellite data, observation data, reanalysis data.

Main Results

• Deficit irrigation significantly reduced grain yield (−14.8%), ETc act (−18.3%), SN (−8.6%), GNPS (−6.7%), and TGW (−2.9%).
• WP showed only a slight and non-significant increase (+2.8%).

Contributions

• This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of deficit irrigation on wheat grain yield, ETc act, WP, and yield components in China.
• The results highlight the importance of considering production level, irrigation-reduction intensity, and irrigation-reduction timing when evaluating the effects of deficit irrigation.

Funding

• Not specified.

Citation

@article{Ma2026Yieldwater,
  author = {Ma, Jiayu and Xiao, Xi and Yin, Baozhong and Guan, Liying and Lv, Yuqiao and Wang, Sitian and Bao, Xiaoyuan and Zhen, Wenchao},
  title = {Yield–water trade-offs of deficit irrigation in wheat in China: A meta-analysis across irrigation-reduction intensities and production levels},
  journal = {Agricultural Water Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110701},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110701}
}