Effects of nitrogen spraying on the post-anthesis stage of winter wheat under waterlogging stress

Waterlogging is a main stress factor during the late growing stage of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the southern Huanghuai and Yangtze Valley regions of China. The effects of nitrogen spraying on post-anthesis of winter wheat under waterlogging stress were studied in continuous growing seasons from 2009 to 2011. The results showed that waterlogging after the anthesis stage significantly reduced root respiratory activity, leaf greenness (SPAD reading), photosynthetic rate (P _n), stomatal conductance (G _s) and transpiration rate (T _r) by averages of 11.09, 10.75, 15.18, 8.97 and 8.82 %, respectively, increased intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i) by 9.74 % and decreased grain number per spike, 1,000-grain weight and grain yield by 8.07, 12.68 and 20.11 %, respectively. Nitrogen spraying significantly improved root respiratory activity, leaf greenness (SPAD reading), photosynthetic rate (P _n), stomatal conductance (G _s) and transpiration rate (T _r) by 4.96, 7.35, 7.01, 5.09 and 5.09 %, respectively, reduced intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i) by 9.74 % and increased grain number per spike, 1,000-grain weight and grain yield by 4.71, 6.45 and 11.48 %, respectively. However, neither nitrogen spraying nor waterlogging had significant effects on spike number. There was significant interaction between waterlogging and nitrogen spraying. Our results suggest that nitrogen spraying is an effective way to alleviate the negative effects of waterlogging stress after anthesis stage in winter wheat.