Key Technical Points for Controlling Excessive Growth, Drought Resistance, and Freeze Prevention to Ensure Safe Wintering of Wheat

The core of ensuring the safe wintering of wheat lies in scientifically regulating plant growth vigor, rationally managing water and fertilizer, and strengthening integrated pest, disease, and weed control to achieve controlled growth, drought and freeze resistance, and ultimately ensure stable and increased yields. The following technical points provide reference and guidance for production management in different regions.

I. Suppressing Excessive Growth and Promoting Strong Seedlings

1. Proper Implementation of Mechanical Rolling

For wheat fields sown early with a high seeding rate, if winter temperatures remain consistently high, plant growth may advance too quickly, increasing the risk of frost damage. In such cases, mechanical rolling should be performed before the soil is completely frozen, following the principles of “rolling dry, not wet; rolling soft, not hard; rolling lightly, not heavily.” The intensity of rolling should be adjusted based on the field conditions:

For fields with excessive growth, increasing rolling pressure helps control above-ground tillers and promotes deeper root development.
For fields with overly wet soil or weak seedlings, rolling should be minimized or avoided to prevent mechanical damage and soil compaction.

2. Timely Application of Chemical Growth Regulators

For wheat fields with large populations and significant excessive growth trends, foliar application of plant growth regulators can be used when the average temperature is stable above 8°C to slow down above-ground growth. Spraying should be uniform and at appropriate concentrations to prevent overuse and phytotoxicity.

For wheat with a “false excessive growth” condition (long leaves but weak individual plants) or fields showing nutrient deficiency, growth inhibitors should not be used. Instead, foliar fertilizers such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate should be applied to enhance root development and improve stress resistance.

3. Timely Inter-row Hoeing

For fields with excessive growth, deep hoeing (5–7 cm) between rows can be used to cut some roots, reducing excessive nutrient absorption and limiting ineffective tillers. This promotes the formation of well-developed root systems and strong individual plants.

II. Water and Fertilizer Regulation for Weakening Overgrowth and Strengthening Plants

1. Precise Fertilization and Irrigation to Improve Seedling Growth

Fertilization and irrigation should be based on soil moisture levels and seedling conditions:

If soil moisture is insufficient and wheat shows signs of drought stress, timely irrigation combined with appropriate fast-acting fertilizers should be applied to maintain plant vitality.
For fields with optimal moisture and normal growth, additional irrigation and fertilization should be avoided to prevent excessive growth.
For weak seedlings with small populations, nitrogen fertilizers should be applied when rainfall or soil moisture conditions are favorable to improve winter hardiness.

2. Ensuring a Healthy Root Environment to Enhance Stress Resistance

For fields with large amounts of straw residue, soil structure may be loose or suspended. Timely irrigation and light soil compaction should be applied to promote solid root growth before winter.

In rice stubble wheat fields, an efficient “three-ditch” drainage system (ridge ditches, perimeter ditches, and waist ditches) should be established and maintained to ensure smooth drainage. This prevents waterlogging and facilitates irrigation when needed.

III. Scientific Winter Irrigation to Enhance Drought and Freeze Resistance

1. Precise Timing of Winter Irrigation

Winter irrigation replenishes soil moisture, promotes root and tiller development, and mitigates frost damage. However, improper timing can lead to excessive evaporation (if too early) or inadequate water infiltration (if too late).

For fields where soil relative moisture is below 70%, winter irrigation should generally be carried out when the average daily temperature is around 3°C, with alternating freezing at night and thawing during the day, ensuring effective water infiltration.
For fields with excessive growth and sufficient soil moisture, winter irrigation may be delayed or omitted to prevent further growth and reduce the risk of frost-related damage.

2. Optimized Irrigation Methods

Efficient irrigation methods such as micro-sprinklers, “small white dragon” irrigation pipes, or drip irrigation should be used.
Water volume should be controlled, generally not exceeding 40 cubic meters per mu.
After irrigation, light hoeing should be performed to improve soil aeration and reduce compaction.
For late-sown fields with sparse plants, weak seedlings may not tolerate the cooling effect of winter irrigation. In such cases, irrigation may be skipped, or minimal irrigation applied to support seedling growth.

IV. Integrated Pest, Disease, and Weed Control to Reduce Wintering Populations

1. Disease Monitoring and Early Prevention

The Northwest fungal source area and the Southwest overwintering area are key regions for wheat stripe rust prevention. The strategy of “scouting with pesticides, controlling small outbreaks before they spread” should be implemented to prevent disease expansion.
Sheath blight spreads rapidly under favorable temperature and humidity conditions and should be controlled early to prevent the formation of large infection sources before winter.

2. Pest Monitoring and Integrated Control

Underground pests, wheat spider mites, and aphids pose major threats before and during winter. Field inspections and pest forecasting should be strengthened.
If pest density reaches control thresholds, a combination of biological control, physical trapping, and precise pesticide application should be used to prevent outbreaks.

3. Weed Control in Wheat Fields

Herbicides should be selected based on the weed population structure, field conditions, and current temperatures.
Chemical weeding should be performed during clear, frost-free periods when the daily average temperature is above 5°C and no precipitation is expected, to avoid frost or herbicide damage due to improper application.

By integrating these scientific management techniques, wheat crops can be effectively protected from excessive growth, drought, and freeze damage, ensuring safe overwintering and stable yields.