Planting Rice at Monsoon Onset Could Mitigate the Impact of Temperature Stress on Rice–Wheat Systems of Bihar, India

The rice–wheat rotation is the dominant cropping system in Bihar, where food security of rural population depends heavily on production rice and wheat. In farmers plant after first significant rains, climatic shocks induced by low temperatures terminal heat stress at end corresponding season can significantly affect wheat yields. present work evaluates benefit using an earlier date for planting rice, following monsoon onset, reducing thermal systems. High-resolution gridded crop simulations APSIM model were performed to simulate potential yields onset farmers’ practice as dates. was calculated agronomic definition, dates estimated satellite data. results analyzed terms dates, yields, incidence temperature means limiting factors. show that harvest are, general, 20–30 days earlier, which translates into higher more stable be up 50% 29% rice. be, average, 12% lower 25% These help design mitigation strategies impacts temperature-induced shock events context advances sub-seasonal seasonal forecasting, targeting climate services Bihar.