Eight Key Points for Managing Wheat During the Wintering Period

From emergence to wintering, the growth characteristics of winter wheat are growing roots, growing leaves, growing tillers, and completing the vernalization stage, that is, "three growths and one completion," with the growth center being tillering. The central task of field management is, on the basis of preserving seedlings, to promote root growth and increase tillering, so that weak seedlings become strong and strong seedlings grow steadily, ensuring that the wheat seedlings overwinter safely and laying a good foundation for more and larger heads the following year.

1. Check seedlings and reseed. Where missing seedlings or broken rows occur due to missed sowing, insufficient soil moisture, underground pests, and other reasons, check the seedlings and reseed in time. Soak the reseeded wheat seed in cold water for 24 hours, then dry it and sow, to ensure full and uniform seedlings.

2. Eliminate seedling-stage pests and diseases. Common seedling-stage pests and diseases include grasshoppers, planthoppers, underground pests, leaf rust, and so on. Once found, control them in time.

3. Press down the "needle." After wheat enters the three-leaf stage, the nutrients in the seed endosperm are exhausted, and the seedlings must rely on their own photosynthesis to produce nutrients for growth and development. This is the key period for promoting roots and increasing tillers. Pressing down the "needle" is a powerful measure, that is, pressing once at the three-leaf stage, which controls the main stem, promotes tillering, controls aboveground growth, and promotes the root system.

4. Harrow the wheat and loosen the soil. If rain occurs during the tillering stage, harrow the wheat and loosen the soil in time, which helps break up crusting and promote root growth. For vigorous seedlings, harrow deeply (more than 7 cm), which can cut roots and control excessive vigor. For wheat on saline-alkali land, hoeing must be done after rain to prevent salt return from harming the wheat seedlings.

5. Water the winter water well. Topdress as appropriate. Winter irrigation should be timely, generally starting when the average temperature is 7°C to 8°C and ending at about 5°C, when it freezes at night and thaws during the day. The amount of winter irrigation water should not be too large; it is best if it can soak through and infiltrate the same day. Flood irrigation is taboo. For wheat fields with insufficient basic seedlings, early-sown vigorous seedlings lacking fertilizer, or insufficient basal fertilizer, combine winter irrigation with fertilization, applying 5 kg to 10 kg of urea per 667 sq m to prompt early green-up of wheat, consolidate pre-winter tillers, increase the rate of tillers forming heads, and make winter fertilizer serve spring use.

6. Urine irrigation in winter must strictly prevent damage to wheat seedlings. Urine irrigation can be done from wintering to before green-up, applying as it accumulates. Generally, about 500 kg of urine is applied per 667 sq m. Urine irrigation is not suitable on saline-alkali land or when there is snow cover in the wheat field. Urine irrigation has a notable yield-increasing effect; about 15 kg of fresh urine can increase yield by 1 kg.

7. Cover with a quilt. The farming proverb says it well: "Wheat eats the twelfth-month soil." This shows that covering has the effect of preventing cold and protecting seedlings. Technical points: carry it out after wheat enters the wintering period. Too early, and the wheat seedlings will be smothered yellow; too late, and the leaves will be frozen, operation is also difficult, and the expected effect cannot be achieved. After winter irrigation, on the basis of harrowing the wheat and loosening the soil, use a bamboo rake in the large rows along the ridges to rake soil over the wheat seedlings, covering about 2 cm of soil. This technical measure can stabilize soil temperature, reduce soil moisture evaporation, ensure that wheat overwinters with green leaves, reduce ground cracking, and fill cracks.

8. Pressing. After covering and before green-up, roll the wheat 1 to 2 times to crush clods, making the soil fine and compact, which helps eliminate crusting and cracking, preserve temperature and moisture, and can also pull soil to fill cracks and prevent soil from leaking air. This is an important measure for wintering management of wheat in water-deficient wheat fields and another important means of drought resistance, cold resistance, and seedling protection. 9. Grazing and biting green wheat in wheat fields is strictly prohibited. The green leaves retained during the wintering period can carry out photosynthesis after green-up, and they are the main source of nutrients needed when growth just resumes. Winter grazing will cause extensive damage to this green area, weaken cold resistance, and reduce yield.