Improving grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat through a combination of manure and chemical nitrogen fertilizer on the Loess plateau, China

Developing an effective fertilization management practice is crucial for ensuring food security in dryland. A 3-year field experiment was conducted on the Loess plateau dryland, China, to investigate the effects of manure and nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil water regime, grain yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). The results showed that soil water content at winter wheat sowing was 13.4 mm (3.7%) higher with manure than without after 2 years of fertilization. Additional manure increased soil water recharge, grain yield, and WUE by a mean of 20.7%, 11.6% and 12.6%, respectively, relative to those without manure.