The timing of the last irrigation for wheat and barley is always a difficult decision. Applying an unnecessary irrigation at the end of the season wastes water and can cause lodging. Conversely, water stress at the end of the season may reduce kernel weight, test weight, and yield. On a sandy loam soil, the last irrigation is needed at soft dough. About 3 to 4 inches of water is needed to carry the crop from soft dough to maturity. The average sandy loam soil holds about this amount of plant available water in the active rooting zone.