Impact of climate change on wheat (Triticum aestivum) productivity in late sown condition at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Increasing evidences over past few decades indicate that significant changes in climate are taking place worldwide due to anthropogenic activities. The increase in temperature was observed at annual, post monsoon and winter season time scales over India. The rising trends of annual maximum and minimum temperatures were noticed at the rate of 0.01°C year⁻¹ and 0.04°C year⁻¹, respectively over Allahabad during the last 40 years. It was observed that rate of rising was more in case of minimum temperature as compared to maximum temperature at post monsoon and winter season time scales. A decreasing trend of annual rainfall was noticed at the rate of 2.8 mm year⁻¹ and rainfall during post monsoon and winter season was decreased at the almost equal rate of 0.4 mm year⁻¹. It was observed that annual maximum and minimum relative humidity increased at the rate of 0.06% year⁻¹ and 0.2% year⁻¹, respectively. Variability in the climatic elements like temperature influenced growing conditions and productivity of thermo-sensitive crop like wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The simulation study assessed that yield of wheat was reduced by 10.4 to 16.8% with the increase of 2 to 3°C temperature. Thus, adaptation strategies have to be identified to nullify the negative impacts of climate change on crop productivity.