Critical Stages for Moisture Stress in Different Crops

Studies were undertaken on bajra, setaria, jowar, safflower and sunflower using sand culture technique to determine critical stages of crop growth for moisture stress by subjecting the plants to moisture stress at pre-determined growth stages. The reduction in yield as a result of moisture stress at different growth stages was found to be much less in bajra compared to setaria and jower due to its non-synchronus growth habit. Boot leaf and flowering were more sensitive for moisture stress than other phases in jowar. Safflower was highly sensitive during branch initiation to flowering as against budding to maturity in sunflower. Jowar followed by safflower will be the crops which would give better efficiency for moisture utilization with protective irrigation under rabi conditions of the Bellary region.