By Jamie Martin
A new Washington State University study suggests that planting spring wheat earlier to escape rising summer heat may not guarantee stable harvests. Researchers found that early planting can shift plant stress to other growth stages, limiting productivity.
Led by assistant professor Dr. Kirti Rajagopalan and graduate student Supriya Savalkar, the research team used computer simulations to analyze how early planting affects wheat development across northern U.S. regions. Their results, published in Communications, Earth, and Environment, indicate that while early planting avoids peak heat, it may expose crops to cooler or overly warm temperatures during sensitive stages.
“We looked at how the crops experience temperature ranges,” said Savalkar, who will defend her PhD dissertation in November. “You can reduce heat stress in some stages, but at the cost of exposing it to elevated heat or cold stress in other growth stages.”
“Shrinking the planting window is a nightmare for farmers,” Rajagopalan said. “It’s already challenging for them to get all their crop in the ground; having less time would be much harder.”
Co-author and wheat breeder Dr. Mike Pumphrey added that the findings point to a need for new wheat varieties that can mature earlier while maintaining yield potential.
The Pacific Northwest appeared as the only region where early planting performed similarly to normal timing. Elsewhere, wheat crops faced greater risks. The researchers concluded that while earlier planting remains an option, it should be carefully balanced with ongoing breeding and management innovations to sustain productivity in a warming climate.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-orientaly
Categories: National