Nor'westers will be more destructive for crops under the changing climate. What can we do to adopt?
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Nor'westers will be more destructive for crops under the changing climate. What can we do to adopt?

Thoughts

AKM Saiful Islam, M Golam Mahboob & Md Sazzadur Rahman
12 May, 2021, 09:40 pm
Last modified: 12 May, 2021, 09:47 pm

Related News

  • Climate change is hurting insurers: Report
  • Pcycle: Turning waste from bins into beautiful crafts
  • Sandstorm closes schools, offices and halts flights in Iraq
  • USAID launches $20M project to fight climate challenges
  • Scary spring: Earlier blooms are a sign of climate change

Nor'westers will be more destructive for crops under the changing climate. What can we do to adopt?

High temperature at the reproductive phase of rice plant is very damaging

AKM Saiful Islam, M Golam Mahboob & Md Sazzadur Rahman
12 May, 2021, 09:40 pm
Last modified: 12 May, 2021, 09:47 pm
Nor'westers will be more destructive for crops under the changing climate. What can we do to adopt?

On April 4, 2021, a Nor'wester blew through Bangladesh between 6PM and 12PM from the northwest part to southwest part of the country. 

As per the Department of Agricultural Extensions (DAE) field survey report, the hot air induced by the Nor'wester caused damage to Boro rice of more than 68,123 hectares. The panicles of Boro rice dried up due to the heat shock. Most of the damages occurred in Gopalganj, Kishoreganj, and Netrokona district, as reported in the newspapers.

Spikelet sterility in the rice panicle
Temperature requirements for rice growth and development vary according to its growth stages. In general, the optimum temperature of rice growth is 20°C  to 30°C. However, rice can grow beyond this range, but injury/damage can happen in different degrees depending on the stages of growth. 

Rice growth and development is classified into three phases, i.e., vegetative, reproductive, and ripening phases. High temperature can cause very little effect by damaging the leaves at the vegetative phase. At ripening, high temperature may hamper grain filling and increases chalkiness which can lower yield and grain quality. 

But a high temperature is most damaging at the reproductive phase. A high percentage of spikelet sterility occurs when the temperature remains above 35°C at anthesis (during spikelet opening, pollination, and closing in the morning, about 10.00 AM to 12.00 PM), causing more than 80% sterility if it lasts for 1-2 hours.

Heatwave induced spikelet sterility in the rice panicle
The pre-monsoon seasonal storms cause huge damage due to severe wind speed with hail-storm in small areas. But this year, the storm hit countrywide simultaneously characterized by rain-free hot air (35°C to 37°C) and very low humidity (<40%) which gusted for almost two to three hours. 

We referred to this as a 'heatwave.' This high-velocity hot air caused 'forced transpiration' (transpiration is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts) from active panicles (bloomed within 4-5 days) and in some cases from flag leaves above panicles. 

Transpiration is the cooling mechanism of plants for surviving active and sensitive organs against very hot and dry conditions. In general, rice canopy (active leaves) and flowering panicles can maintain 4°C to 6°C lower temperature than the air through transpirative cooling system. 

Therefore, during a heatwave, rice plants reduce the temperature from their flowering panicles, and flag leaves cause quick drying of the spikelets and leaves. It was reported that increasing the vapour pressure deficit around rice panicles, leaves and difficulty in quick water transport might lead to the drying of panicles and leaves. This type of spikelet sterility was reported in Japan and the Korean peninsula, mainly caused due to the high wind velocity for 2-3 days. In that case, wind velocity and low humidity is the major cause of drying rather than temperature.

Climate change induced extreme events
NASA Earth Observatory has recently reported that the global average surface temperature rose 0.6°C to 0.9°C between 1906 and 2005, and the rate of temperature increase has nearly doubled in the last 50 years. But if emissions continue to increase, Earth's temperature would rise beyond 5°C by the end of this century. 

National climate assessment reports of many countries already mentioned that the number of heatwaves and other extreme events has increased globally, and the strength of these events has increased, too. Heat stress considering both temperature and humidity, will determine how such kinds of events will occur in the future. 

Under global warming, it is expected that both the magnitude and frequency of extreme heatwave events will be increased in the future. Combined heatwave, low humidity, and high wind from Nor'wester are expected to increase the likelihood of occurring such types of unprecedented events in the future. 

Way forward
Right after this event, a group of Bangladesh scientists and experts  met virtually on 11th April 2021 to discuss the agrometeorological perspectives of panicle drying due to Nor'westers mediated heat shocks. The meeting was moderated by Dr. Md. Golam Mahboob, Senior Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute. 

More than thirty renowned climatologists, meteorologists, and agricultural scientists, including Professor Dr. AKM Saiful Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Professor Dr. M Tofazzal Islam of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Professor Dr. Towhida Rashid of Dhaka University, Professor Dr. Dewan Abdul Qadir of NPI University of Bangladesh, Dr. Md. Sazzadur Rahman of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Dr. Md. Shah Kamal of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Mr. SM Quamrul Hassan of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, participated in the meeting. 

The group discussed the event that took place on 4th April 2021 and decided to initiate collaborative research to further investigate and understand the nature of the event from multiple dimensions, including meteorological, climatological, disaster science, crop science, and socio-economic perspectives, and find out ways to overcome such problems in future. An open-source knowledge platform for sharing and exchanging ideas and data would assist in achieving faster results for the greater interests of science and society.  

Unfortunately, none of our currently available modern varieties can withstand such type of hot air-induced panicle sterility. Therefore, we must be better preparing and developing the possible adaptation strategies to reduce the loss and damage caused by such kinds of extreme events in the future. Based on initial discussion with the experts, a few recommendations can be made:

  • Crop standing water (about 2 to 3 cm) should be maintained till 1/3rd of the grain filling stage.  
  • Innovative research should be conducted for improving heat-tolerant varieties by a multi-disciplinary research team consisting of national and international experts. 
  • Adjustment of sowing and planting time to avoid the heading/flowering can escape such extreme heatwave conditions. 
  • Excavation of ponds and natural canals (khals) to conserve more water during the monsoon, which can be later used during the dry period.
  • Provide compensation to the farmers who are badly affected by such extreme climatic events.
  • Crop insurance with subsidised insurance premium can be introduced as an instrument for climate change adaptation.
  • Early warning systems should be improved for providing necessary information well ahead of such extreme events. 
  • Necessary assessment of the damage and actions should be taken by the Government immediately after such events for ensuring food security of the country and lessen the adverse impacts.
  • Paris climate agreement should be implemented by the countries that agreed to cut greenhouse gases to keep global warming well below 1.5°C.
  • Awareness should be built among the farmers and stakeholders about such events and about the emergency responses.

Collective efforts from all major stakeholders, including relevant government agencies, academic and research institutes, NGOs, financial institutes, farmers, and media are needed to meet the future challenges under the warming world. A good strategy will help us better manage these types of hazards in the future. 

Professor A.K.M. Saiful Islam works at the Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. 
M. Golam Mahboob is the Senior Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur. 
Md. Sazzadur Rahman is the Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur. 

Environment

Nor'westers / climate change

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo: Bloomberg
    Putin sets Russians on wild hunt for Dollars in black market
  • A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
    Dollar price crosses Tk100 in open market 
  • Sweden&#039;s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and the Moderate Party&#039;s leader Ulf Kristersson (not pictured) hold a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden on 16 May 2022. TT News Agency/Henrik Montgomery via
    Sweden and Finland to hand in NATO applications on Wednesday, Swedish PM says

MOST VIEWED

  • Md Kafi Khan. Illustration: TBS
    Reinventing retail banking in a post-pandemic world
  • Representational Image. Photo: Collected
    What if our parents went to therapy?
  • Sanjoy Barua Chowdhury. TBS Sketch
    Buddha Purnima: A day dedicated to spreading love, compassion, and peace
  • Daniel J Arbess. TBS Sketch
    The inflation tail is wagging the policy dog
  • Illustration: TBS
    How to revive the pre-Covid teaching environment in educational institutions
  • Sketch: TBS
    Does your country really need digital cash?

Related News

  • Climate change is hurting insurers: Report
  • Pcycle: Turning waste from bins into beautiful crafts
  • Sandstorm closes schools, offices and halts flights in Iraq
  • USAID launches $20M project to fight climate challenges
  • Scary spring: Earlier blooms are a sign of climate change

Features

Despite Bangladesh having about 24,000 km of waterways, only a few hundred kilometres are covered by commercial launch services. Photo: Saad Abdullah

Utilising waterways: When common home-goers show the way

8h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

How Putin revived Nato

10h | Panorama
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

The United House: Living and working inside nature

10h | Habitat
Pcycle team members at a waste management orientation event. Photo: Courtesy

Pcycle: Turning waste from bins into beautiful crafts

11h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

The first mosque in India was built Prophet Mohammad time

The first mosque in India was built Prophet Mohammad time

1h | Videos
After six decades ,the Archies is back

After six decades ,the Archies is back

1h | Videos
Exporters in discomfort, expatriates preferring Hundi

Exporters in discomfort, expatriates preferring Hundi

1h | Videos
Can your coworker be your closest friend?

Can your coworker be your closest friend?

11h | Videos

Most Read

1
Representative Photo: Pixabay.
Bangladesh

Microplastics found in 5 local sugar brands

2
Mushfiq Mobarak. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Panorama

Meet the Yale professor who anchors his research in Bangladesh and scales up interventions globally

3
Impact of falling taka against US dollar
Banking

Taka losing more value as global currency market volatility persists

4
Govt tightens belt to relieve reserve
Economy

Govt tightens belt to relieve reserve

5
Union Capital asked to return Tk100cr FDR to BATBC 
Banking

Union Capital asked to return Tk100cr FDR to BATBC 

6
How Bangladesh can achieve edible oil self-sufficiency with local alternatives
Bazaar

How Bangladesh can achieve edible oil self-sufficiency with local alternatives

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab