Abstract
ABSTRACTRelationships between wheat (Triticum æstivum L.) yield components and growing season weather conditions (e.g. temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration) were investigated for a rice-wheat rotation paddy system situated in Northern Kyushu, Japan over a 17-year period (2000–2016). A 1.0 mm increase in precipitation from 21 to 32 days after sowing decreased wheat yield by about 27 kg ha−1 at early seedling stage with one to two leaves (Zadoks (Z) growth stage Z1.1–1.2). Number of tillers and spikes showed significant negative correlations to the amount of precipitation during the period. An hour increase in mean daily sunshine hours from 94 to 111 days after sowing resulted in an 328 kg ha−1 rise in grain yield at stem elongation stage with the first and second node detection (Z3.1–3.2). The grain number per square meter also showed strong positive correlations to sunshine hours during the same period. However, this positive effect of sunshine was negated when precipitation exceeded about 30 mm during the early seedling stage. Consequently, precipitations at early seedling stage and sunshine hours at stem elongation stage mostly determined wheat yield in Northern Kyushu paddy field. Increasing precipitations during the early seedling stage highlights the pressing need for effective paddy field drainage management from wheat sowing through harvest.Abbreviations: CP: Chikushi Plains; FARC: Fukuoka prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center; SARC: Saga prefectural Agricultural Research Center; DAS: days after sowing
Highlights
Staple food’s widespread production increasingly requires high yielding varieties and advanced cultivation and management methods to maintain a sufficient supply
We analyzed the relationships between long-term wheat yield and meteorological data
We identified the critical precipitation period, 21 to 32 days after sowing with one- to two-leaf stage (Z1.1–1.2) brought the severe reduction in wheat growth and yield
Summary
Staple food’s widespread production increasingly requires high yielding varieties and advanced cultivation and management methods to maintain a sufficient supply. Its production is estimated to decline by 6% °C−1 of future climate-change-driven rise and yields would become more erratic in both space and time concomitantly (Asseng et al, 2015). The paddy field crop production system implemented in Northern Kyushu, Japan has a high crop production potential by rotating two crops, usually rice (Oryza sativa L.) with either wheat or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) within a year. Paddy fields in the Northern Kyushu region of Japan produce about 10% of the nation’s wheat (MAFF, 2016). Wheat production in a paddy field rotation is rather erratic compared to rice. Mean wheat yields in Japan’s Northern Kyushu area have dropped by over 40% from 2007 to 2011 (MAFF, 2016), and it is necessary to confirm whether such a large decrease occurs due to weather factors
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