Irrigation is one of the most important measures to regulate plant metabolism in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, unsuitable irrigation will cause the decline of nitrogen use efficiency and grain yield. To determine the effects of irrigation amount and stage on nitrogen accumulation, distribution, translocation and soil NO3--N content under the condition of high yield at the level of 9000 kg per hectare, the field experiment was carried out on high fertility soil with organic matter 15.20 g/kg, alkali-hydrolysable N 77.13 mg/kg, available P 29.70 mg/kg, and available K 121.58 mg/kg in Shiwang village, Yanzhou city, Shandong province, China, using the wheat cultivar Jimai 22 which has high yield and medium gluten potential. Five treatments were set with no irrigation (W0)， irrigated before sowing (W1)， irrigated before sowing and at jointing stage, respectively (W2)，irrigated before sowing, at jointing and anthesis stages, respectively (W3)，irrigated before sowing and at anthesis stage, respectively (W4). The irrigation amount each time was 60 mm. There were three replicates for each treatment. The plot area was 2
m×6 m and a 1 m wide protective belt was left between every two adjacent experimental plots. The basic seedling number was 180 plant/m2.
The results indicated that，the nitrogen accumulation amount in plant and grain and the nitrogen translocation amount (nitrogen accumulation in vegetative organs at anthesis stage－nitrogen accumulation in vegetative organs at maturity, NTA) from vegetative organs to grain after anthesis in treatments which irrigation were supplied were significantly higher than those of treatment W0. With the increasing of irrigation amount, the nitrogen accumulation amount of wheat plant, NTA and nitrogen translocation efficiency (NTA/nitrogen accumulation in vegetative organs at anthesis stage, TE) from vegetative organs to grain after anthesis were increased at first then decreased, and those of treatment W2 were the highest. The soil NO3--N content in 0–200 cm soil layer decreased first, increased then, and decreased again as wheat growth process progress, and reached its lowest content at jointing stage. At maturity stage, the soil NO3--N content in 0–40 cm soil layer of treatment W0 was significantly higher than that of treatments which irrigation were supplied. With the increasing of irrigation amount, the soil NO3--N content in 100–160 cm soil layer was increased, that of treatment W2 was significantly lower than treatment W3 and W4, and there were no significant differences in 160–200 cm soil layer among these treatments. With the increasing of irrigation amount, nitrogen uptake efficiency, nitrogen harvest index and nitrogen fertilizer productive efficiency were increased at first then decreased, and those of treatment W2 were the highest. But nitrogen use efficiency was gradually decreased, and that of treatment W0 was the highest while there was no significant difference among treatment W2, W3 and W4. Based on a comprehensive consideration of nitrogen use efficiency, grain yield and soil NO3--N content, the irrigation amount and stage recommended under the condition of this research was the treatment W2 which irrigated before sowing and at jointing stage respectively, the irrigation amount each time was 60 mm.