An experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions, to study the differential behaviour of three wheat cultivars under soil moisture levels. The following characteristics were evaluated: grain yield, total number of spikelets per spike, number of unfilled spikelets, number and lenght of spikes, weight and number of grains and real evapotranspiration. The gravimetric method was used to control soil moisture. The weight of the experimental unit was corrected by cutting one replication for each stage of wheat development. The results showed that the critical soil moisture level for yield components during the wheat vegetative stage such as total number of spikelets and spikes and lenght of spike was 60-80% of the water stored in the soil or water potencial -0.05 to -0.03 MPa. On the other hand considering the reproductive stage of wheat the components such as number and weight of grains indicated that the best moisture level was 80-100% of the water stored in the soil or water potentials -0.03 to -0.01 MPa. The real evapotranspiration was the biggest during the forth stage of development of wheat being independent of the used cultivar or level of moisture. The results also showed that the real transpiration increased with the availability of water. Among the studied cultivars: Alondra-S-46, Pel.A. 506/62 and BH-1146, the first one presented the biggest water consumption, in the forth stage of development. The obtained data suggest the following water management for the wheat crop: moisture level of 60-80% of the water stored in the soil or -0.50 to -0.03 MPa of water potential from the seed germination to the beginning of emmergence of the flag leaf. From this stage to the maturation stage moisture level of 80-100% of the water stored in the soil or water potential of -0.03 to -0.01 MPa.
wheat; Triticum aestivum L.; water potential; real evapotranspiration; grain yield; yield components