Levels of End-Season Irrigation Terminations: Effects on Wheat Yield and Quality.

This study was conducted to determine cultivar-specific responses to variable irrigation amounts in high-yeld environment in Montana. Eight spring wheat cultivars of high yield potential were planted on April 23, 2014 on a fine sandy loam soil at the Northwestern Ag Research Center field research plots in Kalispell, MT. Experimental design followed split-plot; irrigation treatments as the main plot and cultivars were randomized as sub-plots. Irrigation treatments were 100ET (full irrigation), 2/3 100ET (deficit), and 3 other early cut-offs from the last irrigation (e.g., 100ET minus 1, 100ET minus 2, and 100ET minus 3 irrigation events) and a dryland check. To accurately quantify water applied, surface drip tape irrigation system was used. Soil water balance together with soil moisture sensors were used to monitor soil plant available water. Yield and yield components, seed protein, and flour falling numbers were determined.