High yield with efficient nutrient use: and for wheat

Understanding yield formation and nutrient use are essential for wheat breeding and management. This study combined 76 field trials and literature data with sce-nario analysis to explore the potential of high yield, nutritional quality, and nutrient efficiency in wheat production in China. Currently, the high yield is achieved with high grain N and S but low Zn concentration, and low N efficiency. To improve the grain yield by 10% in 2035, the grain number needs to increase from 31.8 to 38.5 grain spike(-1), and the harvest index from 46.6% to 48.6%, with a reduction in spike number by 10%, when the grain N, Fe, Zn, and S, the nutrient removal efficiency, and the fertilizer efficiency of N, P, and K could all be increased. Our study provides strategies and ideas for promoting wheat pro-duction with high nutritional quality and high nutrient efficiency in China and other countries.

Automated summary

Understanding yield formation and nutrient use are crucial for wheat breeding and management. This study utilized scenario analysis based on 76 field trials and literature data to explore the potential of achieving high yield, nutritional quality, and nutrient efficiency in wheat production in China. The findings indicate that although high grain yield is currently achieved by increasing grain nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) concentration, there is a deficit in zinc (Zn) concentration and nitrogen (N) efficiency. The study suggests that increasing grain number and harvest index, while reducing spike number, along with improved nutrient removal efficiency and fertilizer efficiency, can result in a 10% increase in grain yield by 2035. The strategies proposed in this study provide valuable insights for enhancing wheat production with high nutritional quality and nutrient efficiency in China and other countries.