Flooding and waterlogging causes oxygen to rapidly deplete in the root zone. In turn, this oxygen deficiency affects several physiological processes such as water uptake, the uptake and transport of nutrients and root-shoot hormone relations.
How long wheat can survive
Wheat can probably handle three to four days of flooding or waterlogged soils before it negatively impacts grain yield, as long as some leaves are above water. Higher temperatures will hasten the depletion of oxygen and increase the risk of crop damage.
Deficiencies and yield losses
Acute nitrogen deficiencies are most commonly observed when the crop quickly yellows. The waterlogged soils impair nitrogen uptake, as well as increase the potential for denitrification and leaching. Extended periods of waterlogging reduce leaf elongation, kernel number and ultimately grain yield.
Yield losses reported in scientific journals ranged from 20 to 50 percent when soils were waterlogged for more than 10 days. One study in winter wheat reported a yield loss of about 2 percent for each day soils were waterlogged. However, several studies have noted differences in waterlogging tolerance among wheat varieties.
Of varieties that handled waterlogging better, one of the characteristics researchers observed was the ability of varieties to initiate adventitious roots at the first node. When seminal roots are damaged or restricted, adventitious root growth is promoted. These may form the bulk of the functioning root system when soil is waterlogged for more than several days.
Malik, I E., T. D. Colmer, H. Lambers, T. L. Setter and Marcus Schortemeyer. 2002. Short-term waterlogging has long-term effects on the growth and physiology of wheat. New Phytologist 153: 225–236 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0028-646X.2001.00318.x
Reviewed in 2024