Scientific Irrigation of Wheat: Irrigation Recommendations for Different Growth Stages

Wheat's water demands vary at different growth stages. We will analyze the irrigation needs of wheat from sowing to maturity at each critical stage, providing scientific water usage recommendations to ensure your wheat receives adequate moisture support at every key stage.

Crop Cycle

The entire growth cycle of wheat is approximately 230 to 280 days, generally divided into several stages: sowing period, tillering period, jointing period, booting period, grain filling period, and maturity period. Depending on the variety of wheat, the cultivation time of the year and the length of the cultivation period can vary greatly. The wheat irrigation methods also differ under different conditions.

Irrigation Recommendations

For field crops like wheat that require large-scale irrigation, appropriate sprinkler irrigation can promote healthy crop growth. However, it should be dynamically adjusted according to the crop's growth stage, soil type, and climatic conditions, using drip and sprinkler irrigation flexibly in different regions or growth stages.

Table 1: Wheat Irrigation Recommendations
Growth Stage	Sowing Stage	Tillering Stage	Jointing Stage To Booting Stage	Grain Filling Stage	Maturity Stage
Growth duration	Sowing to emergence, approximately 2–3 weeks	Seedling stage to jointing stage, approximately 4–6 weeks	Approximately 4–5 weeks	Approximately 3–4 weeks	Approximately 2–3 weeks
Irrigation rate	2–5 mm/day	4–6 mm/day	5–7 mm/day	4–6 mm/day	3–4 mm/day
Irrigation frequency	Depends on soil moisture, usually 1–2 times per week	Once a week	Once a week	Once a week	Depends on soil moisture, usually once a week or stop irrigation.
Recommended irrigation method	Sprinkler or drip irrigation. Keep the soil moist during the emergence stage to aid seed germination and seedling growth, but avoid over-wetting to prevent root rot.	Sprinkler irrigation. This is a critical period for the number of wheat tillers and root development. Maintain moderate irrigation to promote healthy tiller growth.	Sprinkler irrigation. This is the stage when wheat has the highest water demand. Adequate moisture helps in the development of the ears and the formation of the final yield.	Sprinkler or drip irrigation. The water demand is slightly lower than the jointing stage, but sufficient moisture must still be ensured to promote grain filling and plumpness.	Neither irrigation nor drip irrigation. Wheat's water demand decreases, so reduce irrigation appropriately to avoid lodging or diseases caused by over-irrigation.

Drip irrigation

Many sprinklers are watering a wheat field.

Sprinkler irrigation

Planting Recommendations

The optimal pH value for winter wheat is 6.5.
If the pH value is below 5.5, most wheat varieties are susceptible to deficiencies in phosphorus (P), molybdenum (Mo), and calcium (Ca), leading to a significant decrease in yield.
If the pH value is above 7.5, wheat may lack boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn), affecting growth and quality.
Wheat can be grown on various types of soil, but it is not suitable for overly light sandy soils or overly heavy peat soils.
Winter wheat is widely cultivated in temperate regions (Europe, Asia, and the Americas, within 60°N latitude) and can also grow in high-altitude areas of some tropical/subtropical regions.
The most suitable temperature for wheat flowering, grain germination, grain formation, and grain filling maturity is 20–25 °C.