Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Plant population refers to the number of plants per unit area of land.
Maintaining an optimum plant population is essential to maximize light interception, nutrient uptake, and water use efficiency, which helps optimize crop yield.
The target plant population is established by selecting the appropriate row spacing and seed rate. Key Formula or Approach:
The plant population per hectare can be calculated using the formula:
\[ \text{Plant Population} = \frac{\text{Area of 1 hectare (m}^2\text{)}}{\text{Row spacing (m)} \times \text{Plant-to-plant spacing (m)}} \] Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us calculate the plant population using standard agronomic spacings for wheat: Standard Spacing: For a timely sown, irrigated wheat crop, the standard recommended row-to-row spacing is \( 25 \text{ cm} = 0.225 \text{ m} \).
The recommended average spacing between individual plants within a row is approximately \( 3 \text{ cm} = 0.133 \text{ m} \).
Substitute these spacing values into the population formula:
\[ \text{Plant Population} = \frac{10,000 \text{ m}^2}{0.225 \text{ m} \times 0.133 \text{ m}} \]
Calculate the product in the denominator:
\[ 0.225 \times 0.133 \approx 0.03 \text{ m}^2 \]
Calculate the total plant population per hectare:
\[ \text{Plant Population} = \frac{10,000}{0.03} \approx 333,333 \text{ plants/ha} \]
Convert this number to lakhs:
\[ 333,333 \text{ plants/ha} = 33 \text{ lakh/ha} \]
This matches Option (A), representing the standard target plant population required to optimize yield in a typical wheat field. Step 3: Final Answer:
The optimum plant population for a wheat crop is 33 lakh/ ha.
