Management practice to optimize wheat yield and water use in changing climate

ABSTRACT

Field experiments for six seasons (2008–2013) for present time slice (PTS; 2008–2013) and simulation studies for mid-century (MC; 2021–2050) were carried out to assess different planting dates, varieties and irrigation schedules in addressing the impact of climate change on grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). During field experimentation, WUE (averaged over other treatment) was unaffected by planting date; however, it was 6% higher in late variety (V₁) than early variety (V₂). Simulation study suggested that in MC, increase in maximum and minimum temperatures compared to PTS would reduce wheat yield by 17–27%. In MC, WUE would be reduced by 14.8% due to shortening of crop duration (1–11 days). The reduction in WUE could be ascribed to relatively more reduction in yield (22%) than evapotranspiration (ET) (4%). The WUE in MC3 (2041–2050) was relatively more than MC1 (2021–2030) and MC2 (2031–2040) due to more yield and less ET. Delaying planting date of wheat crop by 15–30 days in this region emerged as the best adaptation measure to tackle climate change impact for sustaining yield and having higher WUE in MC.

KEYWORDS:

• Wheat yield
• wateruse efficiency
• water stress
• CERESWheat
• climate change

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.