Dhaliwal, L.K.Jashandeep Kaur2017-11-252017-11-252017http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810036359The present investigation entitled ‘Effect of weather variability on phenology, growth and yield of wheat in Punjab’ was carried out at the Research Farm, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology during 2016-17. The wheat variety HD-2967 was sown under three different dates of sowing (5th November, 20th November and 5th December) during rabi season 2016-17. The crop was sprayed with four foliar sprays of micro nutrient/ anti-transpirant (control, Foliar spray of ZnSo4 at anthesis (0.5%), KNO3 (0.5%) at 50% flowering and KNO3 (1.0%) at anthesis stage, Thio-urea 10 milimole at anthesis) and the experiment was laid out in split-spilt plot design. Micrometeorological data on photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception, relative humidity and canopy temperature were recorded at different phenological stages. The PAR interception (%) was higher at flag leaf stage in 5th November sown crop (90%) as compared to 20th November sown crop (89%) and 5th December sown crop (87.2%). The PAR interception (%) was slightly higher at soft dough stage (81.4 %) under Thio-urea treated plots in 5th November sown crop followed by 20th November sown crop (79.6 %) and 5th December sown crop (77.9 %). The micro nutrient spray with Thio-urea, potassium nitrate and zinc sulphate treated plots at anthesis showed low canopy temperature as compared to unsprayed or control. Higher leaf area index (LAI) was recorded in 5th November sown crop (4.29) as compared to 20th November sown crop (4.10) and 5th December sown crop (3.79) at 90 DAS. The grain yield was higher (52.8 q/ha) under 5th November followed by 20th November (50.0 q/ha) and 5th December sowing (45.5 q/ha). The numerically higher value of grain yield was obtained under Thio-urea treatments but all the micro nutrients/antitranspirants treatments were statistically at par with each other. Historical weather data indicates increasing trend in maximum and minimum temperature and decreasing trend in rainfall at Ludhiana and Ballowal Saunkhri ; increasing trend in minimum temperature and rainfall but decreasing trend for maximum temperature has been observed at Bathinda. Correlation coefficients between different meteorological parameters and grain yield of wheat indicates no clear cut relationship. Historical western disturbances data of Punjab indicates that number of western disturbances were increased during January, February and March during last five years and it showed negative correlation with wheat yield at Ludhiana and Ballowal Saunkhri. Maximum variability in wheat yield due to western disturbances was at Ludhiana as compared to Bathinda and Ballowal Saunkhri.ennullThesis