High daytime temperature has wheat growers worried
Unseasonably high daytime temperatures in Punjab are stunting wheat growth, causing early flowering and seed formation, worrying farmers. If the heat continues, wheat will mature early, reducing yields and profits. Some farmers have abandoned late-sown crops. Experts warn that a 1°C rise above the 17°C average in March can cause a yield loss of 1 quintal per acre.
The prevailing high daytime temperature, which can stunt the growth of wheat plants, thereby adversely affecting the crop yield, has wheat growers worried across the state.
Normally, wheat plants start flowering by February-end and seed formation starts in the first or second week of March. But due to the prevailing high daytime temperature, the crop growth has remained stunted and flowering has already begun.
Farmers say if the temperature continues to rise as per the prevailing trend, the wheat crop, which becomes ready for harvest in 147-148 days, will mature within 135 days. Early maturation will mean low yield and less profits.
Kulbir Singh, who has sown wheat on 40 acres at Shadipur village, near Nurmahal, said, “My entire crop has started flowering. Seed formation has also started in some part of the fields. This is not normal and it makes me really worried.”
“Many farmers in our area, who sowed wheat late due to delay in paddy straw management, have ploughed it back into the soil. The growth of late wheat variety did not turn out well this time. So, farmers do not want to waste more resources and time on wheat now,” he added.
Wheat has been sown on 35 lakh hectares in the state this season. Although the night temperature remains around 7-10°C, the daytime temperature has shot up to around 22-25°C.
“Early maturing of the crop can lead to huge losses. The average daytime temperature around March first-second week should be 17°C. A rise of 1°C above this average means a yield loss of around 1 quintal per acre,” said Jaspal Singh, Agriculture Development Officer, Kapurthala.
He said the farmers should try to mitigate the possibility of heat stress by watering the fields intermittently.
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Source : The Tribune
