Farmers in climates where late-season drought occurs frequently may be able to increase wheat yield, according to research from The University of Western Australia.
Researchers investigated the use of film-forming antitranspirants, which are emulsions of wax or latex that reduce water loss through transpiration, by forming a thin film on foliage.
Araz Abdullah, a northern Iraqi student from UWA’s School of Plant Biology and Institute of Agriculture, conducted the research as part of his Master of Science (Agriculture) studies at UWA.
He said in Mediterranean-type environments grain yield was limited by the amount of water available for transpiration especially during the grain filling period.
More information is available here: http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201509167975/research/research-find-how-increase-wheat-yield-during-drought-rainfed-enviornments
