Six long-term wheat cultivars of India were examined for
the period 1993-2012 to observe climate induced variations
in productivity and growth pattern. Each cultivar
represented a particular environment manifested by a
specific agro-climatic region and production condition,
productivity of which was derived from 6-10 fixed locations.
Significant yield fluctuations in majority of the environments
indicated that climatic conditions were changing in
different parts of the country. Trend in yield change appeared
cyclic and site differences also turned larger in certain
situations. Pattern of climate induced yield variations
depended upon region and production condition as the
extent was high in late-sown wheats in comparison to
timely-sown and less in the Indo-Gangetic plains in
comparison to central-peninsular India. Disparity occurred
within Indo-Gangetic plains also, as yield fluctuated more
in the eastern region. Direction of change varied in different
environments as yield decelerated in late-sown wheats of
Indo-Gangetic plains and enhanced in harsh climate of
central-peninsular India. Crop growth during vegetative
phase turned favourable in central-peninsular India whereas
reduction in grain ripening period was evident in northeastern plains. Linear trends and magnitude of variations
in yield cum component traits were applied to demarcate
differences in varietal response. Level of climate resilience
differed in the study material and two cultivars namely HUW
234 and LOK 1 appeared climate resilient.
Keywords: Climate resilience, global environmental change, Indian wheat, yield sustainability
Year: 2014
Volume: 74
Issue: 4
Article DOI: 10.5958/0975-6906.2014.00866.9
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
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