Sustainability Considerations in Wheat Improvement and Production

Abstract

This article describes the global wheat mega-environments and consequently need for different types of wheat germplasm. The breeding programs worldwide have targeted yield potential gains as one of their major objectives. The yield gains have been variable, but consistently increasing until the end of the last century. However, in general, there has been a large benefit (estimated between 2 to 6 billion US$ based on year 2000 parity) to the agricultural economy in developing countries due to international and national partnerships in wheat breeding. The production and productivity of wheat in India has begun to show stagnation, primarily due to natural resource base decline. The research results indicate that this can be reversed by practicing zero tillage and timely planting in the Gangetic Plains. The dryland wheat based agriculture is also declining, especially in WANA (West Asia and North Africa). However, the results pertaining to minimum tillage, timely sowing and lentil/vetch rotation with wheat have shown promise to provide high productivity of wheat (up to 4 ton/ha) when the temperature extremes (freezing and very hot) are not common. This article also provides evidence of sustainability and profitability of irrigated agriculture in Sonora, Mexico, provided farmers practice zero tillage, residue management, and raised-bed planting system.