Simulating the Impacts of Heat Waves and Water Stress on Wheat Crop

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Environment and Bio-agriculture Dept., Faculty of Agriculture-Cairo, Al-Azhar University

2 National Water Research Center (NWRC), Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world and is a major source of food for millions of people. However, due to climate change, increasing temperatures and water stress are affecting wheat production worldwide, leading to reduced yield and quality. Egypt is one of the countries that depend on wheat imports, and the impact of environmental stress on wheat production can have significant impact on food security. This study aimed to simulate the impact of heat and water stress on productivity and quality of wheat crops. Field experiments were conducted during two successive seasons 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. The experimental farm of Environment and Bio-Agriculture Dept., Faculty of Agriculture-Cairo, Al-Azhar University. The experimental treatments were distributed in a split-split plot design, the water stress treatments (irrigated and unirrigated) were presented in the main plot, the wheat cultivars (Misr1, Misr2 and Giza 168) were presented in sub-plot, and the heat wave treatments (flowering, maturity and both flowering and maturity stages) were distributed in sub-sub-plot. The results showed that the yield components (spike length, grain weight, and yield/feddan) in all tested cultivars were affected under conditions of heat and water stress. The results also indicated that heat and water stress had a significant effect on the chemical composition of wheat varieties which led to a decrease in their content of protein, total carbohydrates, and gluten, which had a negative impact on the yield quality. Exposing plants to heat waves and water stress led to an increase in their proline content.

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