Individual and combined effects of soil waterlogging and compaction on physiological characteristics of wheat in southwestern China

•The tillering stage was the most waterlogging-sensitive period.•Waterlogging at the jointing and booting stages also reduced grain yield, resulting from a reduction in the thousand kernel weight.•Soil compaction was a major limitation to root elongation and root dry weight, conversely, a reduction in above ground growth was mainly caused by soil waterlogging.•SPAD readings may be a good surrogate for photosynthetic activity under waterlogging and compaction conditions.