LUCKNOW: Unexpectedly high daytime temperatures for this time of the year recorded over past few days threaten to have a detrimental impact on wheat crop in UP, the largest wheat-producing state in country.
As per state agriculture department, the impact of warmer-than-usual days is being observed across swathes of agricultural land in eastern UP, where the size of wheat crop has reduced to almost half of the normal height (around 70-80cm).
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Director general of UP council of agricultural research Sanjay Singh told TOI that minimum temperatures, too, had crossed the benchmark of 15°C in certain pockets of eastern UP, which could adversely affect wheat crop if the trend continued. Singh said it is crucial for minimum temperatures to remain below 15 degrees for next 10-15 days to allow the crop to recover; otherwise, production would decline significantly.
According to experts, wheat production is expected to drop by two to three quintal per hectare, particularly in eastern UP. Singh said the situation is not as concerning in western UP, where temperatures have remained relatively within the normal range.
Experts explained that high temperatures negatively impact wheat growth and yield primarily by reducing photosynthesis, disrupting grain filling, causing pollen sterility, and leading to an overall decline in biomass production. This is especially true when heat stress occurs during the plant’s reproductive stages, such as flowering and grain development. Even a slight temperature increase can result in substantial yield losses, they said.
For 2024-2025 rabi season, UP is projected to produce 32.25 million tonnes wheat, marking a 4.7% increase from the previous year. The state has the largest area under wheat cultivation, at approximately 9.6 million hectares, and contributes over 25% of India’s total wheat production.
