The shortage of water resources has become the main bottleneck for social and economic development in the Yellow River Delta area

thus rational exploitation and utilization of brackish water resources is an important strategy to alleviate the shortage of water resources in this area. In this paper

taking a typical area of the Yellow River Delta as an example

soil water and salt distribution characteristics and the influence of the irrigation method using fresh water and brackish water on the growth and yield of winter wheat were investigated

and some control measures of soil salt accumulation were also put forward. The results showed were as follows: (1) Brackish water irrigation increased the total salt content of the soil in the experimental plot

especially in the 0-20 cm soil layer (increment 0.9 g/kg)

and the amount of salt accumulation became smaller with the increase of the depth. Plenty of rainfall in the rainy season could make the soil salinity leaching into deeper soil layer and thus avoiding excessive salt accumulation after winter wheat harvest. Salt content increment in the 0-20 cm soil layer decreased to 0.12 g/kg at the period of next winter wheat sowing. (2) Photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of winter wheat were not significantly decreased under the influence of brackish water irrigation

while significant difference in transpiration rate was observed. (3) There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the yield of winter wheat between the two irrigation methods using brackish water (9767 kg/hm2) and fresh water irrigation (10455 kg/hm2). A large amount of fresh water resources were saved

which could result in social and economic benefits. The study can provide a scientific reference for scientific and safe use of brackish water in the study area.