Evaluation of the Impact of Different Irrigation Deficit Treatments on the Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Productivity of Autumn Wheat (Case Study: Shahrekord)

Awareness of the impact of water deficit stress on the quantitative and qualitative performance of agricultural products, considering the recent recurrent droughts and reduced precipitation, is essential for water consumption management. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different irrigation deficit treatments on the yield, yield components, and water use efficiency of autumn wheat in the Shahrekord region. An experiment with three replications was conducted in a completely randomized block design at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari Province during 2023-2024. The experimental treatments included four irrigation levels: full irrigation (T100), 80% of full irrigation (T80), 60% of full irrigation (T60), and 40% of full irrigation (T40). The application of the T60 deficit irrigation treatment resulted in a reduction of more than 14% in grain yield, while the T80 treatment caused a more than 31% decrease in grain yield. Additionally, the T60 treatment exhibited the highest water use efficiency at 1.22 kg per cubic meter, while the water use efficiency for the T100, T80, and T40 treatments was 1.06, 1.12, and 1.19 kg per cubic meter, respectively. The results showed that water deficit irrigation significantly affected the grain yield, biomass, and water use efficiency of autumn wheat under the climatic conditions of the Shahrekord region. The results of this study indicated that the T80 deficit irrigation treatment could have a more acceptable performance in terms of water efficiency.