Stress Physiology and Preparation of Appropriate Crop Plans for Dry Land Areas and Mid Contingent Crop Plan for Aberrant Weather Conditions

Water stress influence the crop plants by affecting water relations, photosynthesis, respiration, anatomical changes, metabolic reaction, hormonal interactions, nutrition, growth and development, reproduction, grain growth and yield. To increase and maintain the crop yield in dry soil areas, the crop plan and practices that have been developed and suggested are: proper and timely tillage, early sowing, choice of suitable crop/good plant material, proper plant population, cropping system, fertilizer use, timely weed control, efficient rainwater storage and its use, alternate land use system and planning for aberrant weather hazard. In the situation of late onset of monsoon, transplantation must be done with arrival of rains in case of certain crops and alternate crops/varieties should be used. If there is dry spell immediately after sowing, it is advisable to replant the crop. In case of break in monsoon-mid or late season drought, ratooning and thinning, mulching, weeding, and intercropping practices should be done. In the situation of early withdrawal of monsoon, practices such as plant density reduction, use of surface mulch, saving irrigation, increase in frequency of intercultivation, and stripping of leaves can be done.