Question

Question 7
If wheat is sown in the kharif season, what would happen? Discuss.

Answer 1

Types of crops in India:

1. The crops which are grown in the monsoon season are known as Kharif crops. For eg., maize, millet, and cotton. The seeds are sown at the beginning of monsoon season and harvested at the end of the monsoon season.
2. The crops that are grown in the winter season and harvested in the spring are called Rabi crops. Wheat, gram, and mustard are some of the Rabi crops.
3. Zaid crops are grown between the Kharif and Rabi seasons, i.e., between March and June. These crops mature early. Cucumber, pumpkin, bitter gourd, and watermelon are zaid crops.

Results, if wheat is sown in kharif season:

1. We know that June to October is the monsoon season, where not only do average temperature range between 28°C and above, but in most parts of the country the average rainfall remains high.
2. Wheat typically needs temperatures ranging from (21° to 24°C) with a rainfall of about 38 cms.

3. Because, the optimum temperature range for ideal germination of wheat seed is $20-{25}^o$ C.

4. High temperature stress is a major environmental factor that limits yield in wheat. Every 1°C increase above a mean temperature of 23°C decreases wheat yield by ~10%.

5. So, clearly the rainy season's climatic conditions are not suitable for the growth of wheat. Hence, it is not grown during the Kharif season.