Flooding Effects on Wheat Growth and Yield
Canadian Agricultural Partnership funding
Curtis Cavers, AAFC Portage la Prairie
Wheat plots were flooded at the early and late crop stages to assess the effects of flooding on crop growth and yield. Plots were also grown under non-flooding conditions for comparisons.
Wheat in control plots grew much taller and it took less number of days to mature. Flooding delayed wheat maturity irrespective of flooding timings. Flooding also exhibited stress on wheat plants resulted in significant yield loss. The current study had only one wheat variety and this test will be expanded in future by including more number of wheat varieties. Although weather was exceptionally drier at the Arborg site during the 2019 summer, flooding still caused a decrease in the crop yield.
Extreme moisture in Manitoba causes significant losses to farmers. From 1812-1959 historic records, show that crop losses in Manitoba were 10.2% from excess moisture and 35.6% from
drought. Extreme moisture during the 1812-1959 period accounted for 45.8% of all crop losses.
During 1966-2015, excess moisture accounted for 38% of all crop losses in Manitoba (MASC).
Manitoba crop insurance data from 1965-1972 showed clay soils subjected to excess moisture in
July experienced the highest yield loss (2-6 bu/ac/day) for barley, oats, wheat and flax crops
(Rigaux and Singh,1977).
Additionally, farmers experience loss of nutrients due to extreme moisture as well as loss of soil. Excessive soil moisture also delays agronomic operations. The impact of these losses on farm net income is significant.