TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL SCIENCE

Assignment on :
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN
WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEPAL

INTRODUCTION
Climate change is a reality and affects the poor and developling
countries in many ways such as yield potential. Global climate
change has already had observable effects on the environment.
Effects of climate change has been detrimental in agriculture
industry.

PRESENT STATUS OF WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEPAL

Wheat is one of the major cereal crop after rice and maize. Among
the cereal crop grains, it is ranked third in importance in hill and
mountain region and second in Terai belt in terms if human
consumption. It is grown in river basin, mid hills and high hills of
Nepal during winter season .i.e. Oct to July. Average yield of wheat
in Nepal is 1.6 tons per hector and average yield of south Asian
countries is 2.5 tons per hector. Introduction of semi dwarf varieties
has increased the wheat production by 7 fold, production by 14 folds
and productivity by 2 folds. The total cultivated area of wheat is 20
% and contribution in total cereal crop production is 18.8 % . Average
wheat productivity is 2768 kg/ha in terai , 2208 kg/ha in hill and 1892
kg/ha in mountain.
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN
WHEAT PRODUCTION
Detangling impact of climate change on global wheat production
suggests that a degree centigrade rise in temperature reduce the
yield of wheat by 6%. Different studies has concluded that increase
in temperature and rainfall volatilities has reduced wheat
production but found positive association in wheat yield and climate
change induced CO2 concentration. Rising CO2 gas promotes plant
growth and if it doubles rises wheat yield by 40 %. Temperature rise
promoted wheat yield in India through atmospheric CO2 fertilization
channel upto 38 degree centigrade threshold. The delayed moonson
has already been affecting wheat planting and its yield
subsequently. The growing season of wheat is limited by high
temperature at sowing and maturation. High maximum and
minimum temperature difference adversely affect seedling
establishment, reduce canopy cover, accelerate early vegetative
development, reduce tillering, spike size and yield. Increase in mean
temperature above 17 degree C during terminal spikelet initiation to
anthesis results in decline of grains of 600 to 650 grains/m^2. A 2 to
3 degree rise in temperature reduce yield in major wheat growing
areas, highest in non irrigated areas(and thus water stressed ) crop
than irrigated and rainfed areas due to rainfall variability. 75 % of
wheat cultivated area in Nepal falls where rainfall precipitation
occurs 37.5 mm to 87.5mm. Region with 87mm rainfall is most
suitable, out of this 10 to 15 rainfall required when crop is in the
field. About 70 to 90 % rainfall occurs during summer monsoon and
rest of months are almost dry. Optimum date of planting seeds is
found to in middle of Oct in hills which has resulted in delayed
sowing to reduce grain per spikelet and test weight.
Prepared by :
Roll no 46 to 50
Sugam Pokhrel
Sujata Nepal
Sunil Khadka
Susmita Sapkota
Swastika Rana