Association of Agrometeorologists

Variation in radiation use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as influenced by thermal stress management strategies under late sown conditions

JUGAL K MANI, RAJ SINGH, DIWAN SINGH and V.U.M. RAO

Field experiment was conducted at research farm, Department of Agricultural Meteorology, CCS HAU, Hisar located at 29° 10¢ N latitude, 75° 46¢ E longitude and 215.2 m altitude during rabi season (2007-08 and 2008-09) to study the variation in heat and radiation use efficiency of wheat as influenced by thermal stress management strategies under late sown conditions. The grain, straw and biological yields in pre-sowing treatment were maximum when overnight soaked seed sowing with 25% higher seed rate in dry bed followed by irrigation. Under post anthesis treatments, the highest grain and biological yields were observed in treatment of Urea (2.5%) + ZnSO4 (0.5%) spray at anthesis. The highest radiation use efficiency (RUE) was recorded in pre-sowing treatment when overnight soaked seed sowing with 25% higher seed rate in dry bed followed by irrigation at milking. Under post anthesis strategies, the maximum RUE was observed in treatment of Urea (2.5%) + ZnSO4 (0.5%) spray at anthesis.

Thermal stress management strategies, radiation use efficiency, yields and wheat