PJB-2017-695
Optimization of wheat productivity in response to sowing dates under changing climate of North Punjab, Pakistan
Muhammad Aqeel ASLAM
Abstract
Field experiments conducted under rainfed agriculture for two consecutive years (2013–2015) revealed that temperature stress at the anthesis and during grain filling duration is the most limiting factor for the productivity of spring wheat in rainfed regions of Pakistan. Four sowing dates (SD1 = 21-30 Oct, SD2 = 11-20 Nov, SD3 = 01-10 Dec, and SD4 = 21-30 Dec during 2013-14 and 2014-15) were evaluated at three locations (Islamabad (low temp), URF-Koont (medium temp) and Talagang (high temp) of rainfed Pothwar with the objectives (i) to determine the impact of sowing time on wheat yield and (ii) to identify the most suitable wheat genotype for rainfed areas of Pakistan. Earlier sowing resulted in higher yields (3.04 t ha-1), while advancing sowing dates resulted in lower grain (1.44 t ha-1). Earlier sowing also resulted in higher biological yield (38%), plant height (41%), number of tillers (42%), spike length (20%), spikelet per spike (42%), grains per spike (36%), and thousand grain weight (41%). In Islamabad, where the temperature was lower than URF-Koont and Talagang, the spring wheat yield was higher (32%). The genotype Pak-13 produced better results than other genotypes. Findings reveal that optimal timing for sowing and selection of suitable temperature resistant genotypes is a good strategy to improve the productivity of rainfed crops in temperature-stressed areas.
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