Optimizing wheat prosperity: innovative drip irrigation and nitrogen management strategies for enhanced yield and quality of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai region

The study demonstrated that appropriate drip irrigation can effectively synchronize water and nitrogen supply during critical growth stages in winter wheat, ensuring robust late-stage development and efficient transfer of photosynthetic products into the grains, thus enhancing grain mass and yield. This also led to improved utilization of water and fertilizer and enhanced the nutritional and processing quality of the grain. However, excessive irrigation did not further improve grain quality. In conclusion, given the goals of saving water and fertilizer, achieving excellent yield, and ensuring high quality, the N1S3M1 treatment is recommended as an effective production management strategy in the Huang-Huai Hai area; N1S3M2 could be considered in years of water scarcity.