Spring wheat genotypes in North-West China have evolved over the past century to increase grain yield by producing more grains per unit area, shortening the vegetative growth period, and using water more efficiently. Newer genotypes start flowering earlier but maintain the same time from flowering to maturity. As grain yield rises, the number of grains per spike and spike number per area also increase. Breeding has led to a decrease in water use before flowering, allowing for more soil water retention and biomass accumulation after flowering. Future breeding should focus on extending the grain filling period to maximize resource use and yield potential.