Abstract:Wheat root systems play an important role in uptake of water and nutrients from soil, but the activity and distribution of roots can be influenced by the different tillage systems. Therefore, five agriculture patterns’, that is, conventional tillage (T), conventional tillage with stubble incorporated (TIS), no-tillage without wheat stubble retention (NT),no-tillage with stubble standing (NTSS), no-tillage with wheat stubble retention (NTS) effects on the spatiotemporal distribution of winter wheat roots and yield were studied through field experiments implemented in Wuwei from 2005 to 2007. The aim of the research is to identify a suitable conservation agriculture practice for the area. The results showed that NTS and NTSS can significantly improve total dry root weight (DRW) and root length (RL) compared to T in whole growth seasons,and the total DRW and RL of all treatments peaked at flowering, and then declined gradually. Under NTS and NTSS conditions, the root length density (RLD) and dry root weight density (DRWD) in 0-10cm soil were more abundant than T. The RLD and DRWD of 10-30cm soil depth for T were significantly greater than that for NTS and NTSS at flowering, but the value of the RLD and DRWD increase for NTS and NTSS were higher than that for T after flowering. The results also showed that NTS and NTSS could significantly improved grain yield by 16.84%-30.59% and 12.76%-24.32% compared with T, respectively.