Question

If wheat is sown in the Kharif season, what would happen? Discuss.

Answer 1

Hint: Different crops demand different environmental conditions and thus are grown accordingly. Based on these criteria, there are mainly two types of crops- Kharif crops and Rabi crops. Their duration revolves around the advent and exit of monsoon in India.

Complete step by step answer:
Kharif crops are also known as monsoon crops and autumn crops. It is grown in the Indian subcontinent during the monsoon season which usually lasts from June to November. Rabi crops are known as winter or spring crops because they are sown at the end of the monsoon season or at the beginning of the winter season which lasts from September to April or May. Wheat is a Rabi crop. These require a warm climate for the germination of seed and a cold climate for the growth of crops whereas a Kharif season is marked by hot or warm weather with immense rainfall. Thus, wheat sown in the Kharif season will be unable to grow due to a lack of optimum temperature and excess of rainfall. It will also not flower as it requires a longer day length which is not observed in the Kharif season.

Additional Information:
Wheat belongs to the family of Poaceae. It is one of the most important grains for human consumption. More than a thousand varieties are used to make bread, pasta, spaghetti, flours, etc. Its nutritional content varies with wheat grain varieties due to the differences in soil conditions and climate. But commonly, on average, a wheat grain consists of 70% carbohydrates and the rest includes proteins, water, fat, and minerals.

Note: Apart from Rabi and Kharif crops, there are zaid crops also which are known as early maturing crops or summer crops. They are grown in the months spanning between rabi and Kharif crops i.e from March to June. Crops like cucumber, watermelon, bitter gourd are known as zaid crops.