Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Certain growth stages of crops are highly sensitive to moisture stress.
In wheat, the sequence of growth stages dictates the scheduling of irrigation to prevent severe yield penalties.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The critical growth stages of wheat, listed chronologically as they occur in the field, are:
• Crown Root Initiation (CRI) stage: Occurs around 21 days after sowing (DAS). This is the most critical stage where crown roots begin to form. Water stress here causes severe tillering issues. (D)
• Late Tillering (LT) stage: Occurs around 40-45 DAS, where active tillers develop. (B)
• Jointing stage: Occurs around 60-65 DAS.
• Flowering (F) stage: Occurs around 80-85 DAS, when spikelets emerge and pollination happens. (A)
• Milk (M) stage: Occurs around 100-105 DAS, where grain filling begins. (C)
• Dough stage: Occurs around 115-120 DAS.
Arranging the given options chronologically according to their sequence of occurrence gives:
CRI (D) \(\rightarrow\) Late tillering (B) \(\rightarrow\) Flowering (A) \(\rightarrow\) Milk (C).
This matches the sequence given in Option (D).
Step 3: Final Answer
The correct chronological sequence is (D), (B), (A), (C).