Water use of some recent bread and durum wheat cultivars in western Canada

Abstract

Recently developed cultivars of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) produced significantly more grain than older cultivars. This production was attributed to higher harvest indices and better water use efficiency. Durum cultivars and CWRS AC Intrepid and AC Barrie extracted relatively more soil water below 55 cm, which may be advantageous in minimizing leaching and related to drought tolerance during grain-filling.