Winter wheat responses to increased precipitation intensity, Utah, USA (2016-2019).

We tested the effects of increased precipitation intensity on winter wheat in a temperate, dryland agricultural system that was on a rotation of crop and fallow years (northern Utah, USA). Winter wheat was planted in plots fall 2016 and 2018 and harvested summer 2017 and 2019, respectively. We used 11 (2.1 m x 2.5 m) shelters to collect and redeposit rain and snow as larger, more intense events. Plots received precipitation event sizes ranging from 1 mm to 18 mm. Total annual precipitation was the same in all plots. We measured soil moisture, and above- and belowground winter wheat growth responses to treatments during two years separated by a fallow year. Volumetric soil water content was measured twice monthly during the growing season in all plots. Water potential was measured daily in one control and one treated plot. Temperature and humidity were measured hourly inside and outside of one shelter. Normalized difference vegetation index, leaf area index, photochemical reflectance index, and canopy temperature were measured twice monthly during the growing season. Aboveground wheat biomass, wheat height, grain yield and aboveground weed biomass were measured at end of the growing season. Root growth was measured using a minirhizotron camera system to take twice monthly root images. This repository contains data and R code used to analyze the data. This is the data and code that accompanies the manuscript: Holdrege, M. C.; Beard, K. H.; Kulmatiski, A. (2021). Winter wheat resistant to increases in rain and snow intensity in a semi-arid system. Agronomy.