Advances in research regarding the yield gap and resource use efficiency of winter wheat cultivation and the related regulatory approaches

Reducing the gaps between actual yield and potential yield of crops is one of the current topics in crop science research, and is of great significance in ensuring food security. It is essential to explore the mechanisms underlying the gaps in grain yield and differences in resource utilization efficiency of winter wheat cultivation, to establish the strategies to reduce these gaps, and sustainably meet the requirements of increased total productivity of winter wheat worldwide. In this paper, the overall progress of research regarding the gaps in crop yield, differences in resource use efficiency, and the regulatory technology approaches at home and abroad are summarized first, and then placed in the context of winter wheat cultivation. The five major factors that lead to large gaps in yield and resource use efficiency differences in winter wheat are variety, climate, soil, human management technical factors, and farmers' decision-making. Finally, the following development directions to address these issues in China are proposed: a region-wise control approach based on cloud data analysis should be established; and research on yield gaps, resource use efficiency, and the regulatory approaches under various winter wheat rotation systems should be expanded. Technology approaches involving simplified models for different winter wheat production regions should be developed. Designing technological solutions to bridge the gaps in grain yield and resource use efficiency in winter wheat is inevitable means by which China can lead in the fields of precision agriculture, green agriculture, balanced agriculture, and high-yield and high-efficiency agriculture. The research progress discussed herein provides a theoretical basis and technical support for reducing these differences and enhancing the yield and efficiency of winter wheat in China.