Normal and Late Sowlng Effect on Yield and Yield Related Traits in Wheat

The Agriculture sector continues to play a central role in Pakistan's economy. It is the second largest sector, accounting for over 21% of GDP, and remains by far the largest employer, absorbing 45% of the country's total labor force. Nearly 62% of the country's population resides in rural areas, and is directly or indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood (Economic Survey of Pakistan, 2009-10). While on the one hand, the sector is a primary supplier of raw materials to downstream industry, contributing substantially to Pakistan's exports and on the other hand, it is a large market for industrial products such as fertilizer, pesticides, tractors and agricultural implements. Wheat is cold loving plant and it germinates at low temperatures. The temperature requirements of the different growth phases of wheat plant are different. Seed germination occurs at low temperatures whereas booting and seed setting requires optimal temperature. During grain filling the rising temperatures is 26 to 30 °C, above this limit plant photosynthetic efficiency is disturbed which eventually affects proper grain filling and development.