Water balance of winter wheat following different precursors on the Ukrainian steppe

Abstract

In the steppe zone of Ukraine during the growing season autumn 2021 through the beginning of summer 2022, water balancing in a winter wheat crop with peas as a precursor was 3–9 times greater than with a cereal (spring barley) or sunflower as a precursor; Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) following peas was 1.6–1.7 times greater; the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI, the rate of moisture supply) in the plant leaf at the macro-stages BBCH 10–61 was 1.54–1.82 times higher; and productivity 1.43–1.56 times higher. Water consumption for the formation of a tonne of winter wheat grain following peas was one third less compared to other precursors.