Wheat water productivity under saline irrigation in Northern China: a meta-analysis of effects and management practices.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Saline irrigation is an effective way to alleviate water scarcity in agriculture, but its productivity is constrained by salt stress. The effects of salinity on wheat yield and water productivity (WP), and how management practices can mitigate these effects, remain inadequately quantified.

Methods

Through a meta-analysis of 2265 observations from field studies in Northern China, we quantified the responses of wheat yield, WP, and associated traits to saline irrigation and evaluated the efficacy of key management practices.

Results

The wheat yield (-16.3%) and WP (-13.7%) were significantly reduced under saline irrigation. Salt stress primarily inhibited photosynthetic rate (Pn), which subsequently reduced leaf area index (LAI) and plant height (PH), ultim

SUBMITTER: Jiang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12933646 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature