No-till seeded winter wheat: influence of genotype on water use, crop growth, and yield in contrasting environments

Non-Peer ReviewedGenotypic variation for yield among a population of winter wheat lines grown under a range of natural drought stress conditions was examined in two independent experiments. Extensive variation in yield among twenty-eight advanced winter wheat lines grown under low moisture stress conditions was observed. When the same lines were grown under moderate to severe moisture stress the level of variability decreased. Variation in yield among ten advanced winter wheat lines grown under varying intensities of late season drought stress was also assessed. Lines with the highest yield had the greatest water use efficiency for grain yield. There were no genotypic differences in water use or water use efficiency for above ground dry matter production and there were no genotype x environment interactions for any measured trait. In a third experiment the yield potential of Norstar winter wheat in each of the major soil zones in Saskatchewan was established. The highest yield potential for Norstar winter wheat occurred in the Black/Gray Soil Zone, particularly in the Yorkton/Kamsack corridor. The Brown Soil Zone had the lowest yield potential while the Dark Brown Soil Zone had intermediate yield potential