Summer Maize - Winter Wheat Rotation: Know How It Helps

Wheat is considered the second most important cereal crop in India and plays a dynamic role in the food and nutritional security of the country. About 55% of the world’s population depends on wheat for 20% of calorie intake in their body.

However, the diverse environmental conditions in India can disrupt its production such as in Punjab and Haryana which lost almost 12-20% of their wheat crop due to excessive heat and untimely rain.

Therefore, it becomes vital to look after every loophole for a successful yield. Starting from the roots, the soil supplies the essential nutrients, water, oxygen, and root support that plants need to grow and flourish. They also serve as a shield to protect crops from drastic fluctuations in temperature.

Improving Soil Health to Increase Yield

The intensive cultivation along with crop residue burning and continuous mining of soil has led to the depletion of soil organic matter as well as essential plant nutrients.

The situation is further complicated by imbalanced fertilization leading to multiple nutrient deficiencies. Introducing natural alternatives can help in the cultivation of grains more sustainably, without the need for additional fertilizers or pesticides.

According to the experiment conducted by researchers from the Institute of Plant Sciences (IPS) at the University of Bern, it is observed that specialized metabolites from the roots of the summer maize plant can bring about an increase in the yields of subsequently planted winter wheat under agriculturally realistic conditions.

How Chemicals from Maize Roots Affect Wheat’s Yield?

Plants produce an abundance of special chemicals. Some of these are released into the soil and influence its quality. This, in turn, affects the next plant to grow in the soil.

On the basis of earlier studies conducted by researchers at IPS, University of Bern, it was seen that a natural chemical called benzoxazinoids, released through the roots of maize plants, change the composition of microorganisms in the soil on the roots and therefore influence the growth of the subsequently grown wheat plants. This effect increases yields of wheat planted subsequent to maize in the same soil by more than 4%.

In addition to the increased crop, lower levels of infestation by some pests were also observed. This increase in harvest due to benzoxazinoids does not have any negative impact on wheat grain quality.

Benefits of Benzoxazinoids

• Benzoxazinoids act as natural insecticides and feeding deterrents. They discourage pests from feeding on plants, reducing crop damage which can lead to improved crop yields and quality

• This component in crop residues can influence soil microbial communities and improve soil health. Healthy soils can support better nutrient cycling, water retention, and overall plant growth

• They have the potential for various health-promoting and pharmaceutical applications due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

• This natural weed suppression can help reduce the need for chemical herbicides and lower weed management costs.

The mechanism of maize-wheat rotation has been successful on the west side. It’s majorly practiced between summer maize and winter wheat. However, in countries like India where wheat is considered a staple diet, following such a pattern could be questionable due to increasing heat stress, diminishing water supplies for irrigation, the growing threat of new severe diseases such as wheat rust (yellow, brown, and black) and leaf blight.