Association of Agrometeorologists

Climate variability impacts on wheat productivity in central Punjab

P. K. KINGRA

Long-term (1970-71 to 2014-15) climatic variability analysis during wheat growing period of Ludhiana indicated significant increasing trend in minimum temperature (0.06oC year-1) and decreasing trend in sunshine hours (0.03 hrs day-1) and wind speed (0.03 km hr-1). Lower minimum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and number of rainy days during the reproductive growth period of wheat covering the months of February and March have been found favourable for higher grain yield. Multiple regression model developed between weather parameters during critical periods and grain yield of wheat explained 81% variation in wheat productivity. Verification of this model for three years depicted under-estimation of wheat yield between 4-8%.

Climate variability, wheat productivity, agrometeorological models, yield prediction