MART-AZR Project Research Report 51: Rain-Fed Crop Production Systems of Upland Balochistan: 1. Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

This is the first in a series of articles evaluating crop production and its potential for improvement in upland Balochistan. The results of three years’ trials on improved wheat management under rainfed conditions on farmers' fields are presented. Annual rainfall varied from 30 mm to over 350 mm with site and season. The water use efficiency of the local wheat land-race was 8.7 kg ha-1 mm-1, similar to other values reported for wheat. The wheat varieties recommended for irrigated conditions in upland Balochistan did not give substantially higher production than the local land-race, and in 1986/87 the "good" rainfall year, suffered considerable cold damage and gave substantially less yield. Application of phosphate and potassium fertilizers had little effect on yields. In 1986/87 application of nitrogen fertilizer increased straw and seed yields of the local land-race by 29% and 24%, respectively, but averaged over all trials the increased crop value was only 80 R ha-1 greater than the increased cost of production, and returns to labor were slightly reduced. Weeding also had little effect on crop yields. Net returns for wheat production and returns for labor were low and variable, varying from negative values to 1042 R ha-1, and from negative values to 12 R hour-1, respectively, averaging only 304 R ha-1 and 2.3 R hour-1 In the arid conditions of upland Balochistan the economic net benefits and returns to labor of wheat production under rain-fed conditions are low and highly variable. Substantial improvements in wheat productivity are unlikely unless crop water availability can be increased on a sustainable basis. The case for -encouraging a change to alternative crops is presented in the subsequent articles of this series.