Relevance of height, heading and maturity in productivity enhancement of wheat

Yield improvement in wheat through grain number and grain weight has become increasingly difficult in many production environments. Can the non-grain yield parameters of yield like height, flowering and maturity be explored as an alternate for further yield enhancement? This study comprehends such possibilities by analysing performance of the released and pre-released varieties evaluated in ten diverse production environments of India during the period 2000-2021. Regression analysis has highlighted relevance of these three crop expressions in wheat yield and based upon their contribution, selection criteria has been suggested for different production environments of India. Magnitude of impact varied under each environment and their collective contribution was highest in a production environment where growth condition was most favourable for wheat growth i.e., north-western plains. Increase in height and maturity duration coupled with early heading was found useful in this region for both wheat category, i.e., timely-sown and late-sown. These three yield determinants were found highly effective in timely-sown of the adjoining north-eastern plains also but under late-sown condition, prolonged heading was the chief yield predictor. Height for timely-sown and maturity for late-sown condition was most crucial for central India. Delayed heading in timely-sown and late flowering with extra height in late-sown wheat had been tipped for yield improvement in peninsular India. Delayed maturity for timely-sown and height for late-sown wheat had been suggested for productivity enhancement in the northern hills. Besides grain yield, this selection strategy based upon height and crop phenology also enhanced grain weight in certain environments. At a time when selection for grain attributes is not providing further push in productivity enhancement; it would be worth trying to explore these non-grain field indicators as selection strategy for further advancement in productivity of bread wheat.