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Abstract

Winter wheat is the most important crop in Germany, which is why a three-year field trial (2015–2017) investigated the effects of weather on biometric parameters in relation to the phenological growth stage of the winter wheat varieties Opal, Kerubino, Edgar. In Brandenburg, there have been frequent extreme weather events in the growth phases that are relevant to grain yields. Two winter wheat varieties were grown per trial year and parts of the experimental field areas were irrigated. In addition, soil physical, biometric and meteorological data were collected during the growing season (March until end of July). There were five dry periods in 2015, six in 2016, and two in 2017 associated with low soil moisture. Notably, in 2016 the plant height was 5 cm lower and the cover was 15% lower than on irrigated plots. The grain yield was increased by 19% and 31% respectively by irrigation. However, due to irrigation costs, the net grain yield on irrigated plots was lower than on the unirrigated plots. It turned out that in dry years there were hardly any differences between winter wheat varieties. Multiple regression analysis showed a strong correlation between the biometric parameters considered here and the grain yield.