Field Crops> Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)> Climatic Requirements

Wheat crop has wide adaptability. It can be grown not only in the tropical and sub-tropical zones but also n the temperate zone and the cold tracts of the far north, beyond even the 60⁰ north latitude. Wheat can tolerate severe cold and snow and resume growth with the setting in of warm weather in spring. It can be cultivated from sea level to as high as 3300 metres.

The best wheats are produced in areas favoured with cool, moist her during the major portion of the growing period followed by dry, warm weather to enable the grain to ripen properly. The optimum temperature range for ideal germination of wheat seed is 20 to 25⁰C though the seen an germinate in the temperature range 3.5-35⁰C. Rains just after hamper germination and encourage seedling blight. Areas with a and damp climate are not suited for wheat growing.

During the heading and flowering stages, excessively high, or low temperatures and drought are harmful to wheat. Cloudy weather, with high humidity and low temperatures is conducive for rust attack. Wheat plant requires about 14-15⁰C optimum average temperature at the time of ripening. The temperature conditions at the time of grain filling and development are very crucial fro yield. Temperatures above 25⁰c during this period tend to depress grain weight. When temperatures are high, too much energy is lost through the process of transpirations by the plants and the reduced residual energy results in poorer grain formation and lower yields. Wheat is mainly a Rabi (winter) season crop in India.