Explore how water, nutrients, emissions, and circular strategies shape wheat production.
Wheat requires moderate water compared to rice or sugarcane. Rain-fed farming is common in temperate zones, while irrigated wheat is more common in dry regions. Efficiency depends on climate, soil type, and irrigation systems.
Wheat heavily depends on nitrogen fertilizers. Proper timing and precision application reduce leaching, greenhouse gas emissions, and eutrophication risks.
Wheat fields emit nitrous oxide (NāO) ā a potent greenhouse gas ā especially in over-fertilized fields. Conservation tillage, cover crops, and organic inputs can lower emissions.
Wheat straw is a key residue. It can be returned to soil to build organic matter, used for livestock bedding, or converted into bio-based materials like packaging or ethanol.