Growth and yield of rainfed wheat on the seasonally dry Aegean Islands

Summary The effects of water regime on the rate of growth, the growing period and the yield of a winter wheat crop in the summer-dry climate of Aegean Islands are examined. It is shown that wheat growing period is significantly restricted by either, unfavourable weather conditions at planting (coinciding with the start of rains), or by early soil moisture depletion at the end of the wet season. The probability of a successful early planting, which is conditional on a considerable pre-planting rainfall not being following by a long (10-day) dry spell, is estimated by recurrence relationships. Farmers on the driest (south) islands will have a 25% risk for unsuccessful planting before November 14. Evapotranspiration rates, estimated by the Penman-Monteith equation, are optimum for crop growth for about two months after wintering. The growing season on average comes to an end by the end of spring (soon after anthesis), when the available soil moisture. (estimated by a simple water balance equation) drops to zero.The water shortage, especially during the grains-filling period, may reduce yields by up to 75%, depending on the length and severity of the soil moisture deficit at the site. Reliability and distribution of rainfall suggest that the risks of water deficits in rainfed cropping vary across the region. In order to minimise yield losses from crop failures, farmers should adjust areas sown each year according to the date when the wet season starts.With 10 Figures