We have stressed in several videos that last irrigation should be applied before the dough stage of wheat. After change in the colour of crop, application of water may reduce wheat yield. In this video, we have highlighted that there are some exceptional cases. For example, in case of loose and sandy of Thal area or alike soils anywhere in central or south Punjab where 7-8 or more irrigations are applied to wheat, 1-2 additional irrigations should be applied even after change in colour of crop to avoid grain shriveling in such agro ecological conditions.
Wheat crop grown during the mid of November 2021, is of 115-125 days and reached the milky stage in central Punjab during the 2nd week of March 2022. Crop is mostly at dough stage in south Punjab and most parts of Thall areas but it is still at earing stage in rice zone and rain fed areas. Wheat is a weak stemmed crop and any irrigation at this stage, crop has produced maximum biomass, bumper crop may lead to lodging and heavy losses may result. Wheat needs proper soil moisture for the translocation of photosynthesis to the sinks (grains) at this stage. That is why, decision of irrigation during the mid of March particularly the last irrigation is of crucial importance. In this video, we have guided the wheat growers to be careful and very cautious for any irrigation at this stage. There is a general rule that in case of normal weather, mid-November sown crop, no irrigation should be applied after 20th of March. Being a wide difference between the latitude, soil, irrigation status and climate conditions of north and south, this rule can not be followed equally all over Punjab. Temperature is rising rapidly in south Punjab and last irrigation should be applied during the mid od March. Central Punjab should follow the rule of 20 March. North Punjab especially in the rice zone, last irrigation should be applied within 25 March. Instead of increasing, any irrigation after milky stage may reduce wheat yield. Physiological behavior of wheat has also been argued why miss irrigation at this stage may lead to poor yield.
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