Climate change and maize productivity in north-western plains regions of India

Abstract

The full season maturity group grown during the monsoon (kharif) season in 'All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project' trials from 1991 to 2012 in northwestern plains zone was analysed for grain yield for the best check and best entries. The rainfall trends were simultaneously analyzed in each month over years through Mann and Kendall approach. The increase or decrease in rainfall over years is not significant but the fluctuations in rainfall in each month over years were significant in all the months. In spite of rainfall fluctuations, there was continuous improvement in the new genotypes developed at 'All India Maize Improvement Project' especially in past two decades in 'zone II' as well as Punjab state. The performance of maize in AICMIP was higher in Punjab state than in overall 'zone II'. The new and improved hybrids developed in the program every year were suitable for changing climatic conditions.