Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

IMPACT OF METEOROLOGICAL VARIABLES ON WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) YIELD IN MID HILL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Sunil Kumar, Rajendra Prasad2, Manisha Rana, Navneet Jaryal4, Sweta Sehgal5 and Amardeep Singh

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2010-11 at Palampur with five varieties (HS-490, VL-804, VL-829, VL-892 and VL-907) and four dates of sowing (5th November, 20th November, 5th December and 20th December) in split plot design with three replications. The sowing beyond 20th November up to 20th December resulted in significant reduction in yield. The decrease in grain yield over 20th November date of sowing was 12.9 per cent due to rise in maximum and minimum temperature by 4.0 and 2.2 oC during reproductive phase and 0.7 and 0.8 oC during maturity phase when the crop was sown on 5th December. The comparative reduction in 20th December date of sowing was much higher (22.6 %) when the crop experienced higher maximum and minimum temperature by 4.7 and 2.5 oC during reproductive phase and 1.4 and 1.8 oC during maturity phase. Among all varieties, HS-490, VL-892 and VL-907 recorded significantly higher grain yield on 20th November sowing and remained at par with 5th November sowing. Variety VL-804 and VL-829 produced significantly higher grain yield on 5th November sowing and remained at par with 20th November sowing.