
%0 Journal Article
%A Paltridge, TB 
%A Vries, MPCde 
%T Grain yields in wheat per unit area, and per unit of silicon &#8212; as a measure of water transpired. I. Initial results from South Australia
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1973/10/01
%V 24
%N 5
%P 633-645
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9730633
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9730633 
%X In an attempt to provide a common basis for comparing wheat yields at different sites and the response to selected nutrients (specifically nitrogen and phosphorus), silicon in the glumes from wheat heads has been used as a measure of water transpired. Silicon yields in the glumes of wheat plants are clearly related to the amount of water transpired by crops in the field and the ratio yield/silicon is a sensitive measure of treatment effects that does not vary from year to year, despite marked difference in seasonal rainfall. Optimal values for yield/silicon (i.e. yield per unit of water transpired) could be used to define specific regions, or sites, where recorded grain yields are far below what might be expected from a wheat crop under prevailing climatic conditions. 
