Effects of sheep wintering grazing on growth and yield of winter wheat

In order to evaluate the effect of sheep wintering grazing on growth and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), the soil water, tiller number, plant height, forage yield and seed yield of winter grazed wheat and nongrazed wheat as control were observed in a rainfed region of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the green forage yield and dry weight of winter wheat in wintering were 4.68 and 1.35 tm-2, respectively. After winter grazed, soil water in 10-20 cm soil layer increased by 1.13% at returning green stage and the tillers of winter grazed wheat was 5.5 per plant at standing stage which significantly increased by 19.6% compared to nongrazed winter wheat (4.6 per plant). The height of winter grazed wheat significantly reduced by 3.5-5.3 cm (P＜0.01) and the fresh weight per pant corresponding decreased at the growth stage although without significance. Compared to nongrazed winter wheat, the height of winter grazed wheat was 76.5 cm which significantly reduced by 5.6 cm (P＜0.05)，spikes of winter grazed wheat reduced 24.3 spikesm-2 and seed yield of winter wheat grazed only reduced 2.5% which did not affect the winter wheat production. In conclusion, the utilization of winter wheat by sheep grazing in wintering was reasonable and practicable in the Loess Plateau agricultural region