Question

If water is available for three irrigations only, at which stages the wheat crop should be irrigated

• A. CRI, Late jointing and Flowering
• B. CRI, Late tillering and Flowering
• C. CRI, Boot and Flowering
• D. CRI, Boot and Milk

Hint:

The priority of irrigation stages in wheat is:
1 Irrigation: CRI
2 Irrigations: CRI + Flowering
3 Irrigations: CRI + Late Tillering + Flowering
4 Irrigations: CRI + Late Tillering + Flowering + Milk Stage

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Wheat has six growth stages critical to water availability. When water is limited to fewer than six irrigations, specific combinations of stages must be prioritized to sustain yield.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The six sequential critical stages of wheat are:
1. Crown Root Initiation (CRI) - 21 Days After Sowing (DAS)
2. Active Tillering/Late Tillering - 40–45 DAS
3. Late Jointing - 60–65 DAS
4. Flowering - 80–85 DAS
5. Milk Stage - 100–105 DAS
6. Dough Stage - 115–120 DAS
When only three irrigations are available, the selected critical stages are: - First Irrigation: Crown Root Initiation (CRI), the most critical stage.
- Second Irrigation: Late Tillering, to support tiller survival and spikelet development.
- Third Irrigation: Flowering stage, to support fertilization and grain set.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Under three-irrigation availability, water is applied at CRI, Late Tillering, and Flowering.