Wheat is cultivated extensively in the Yellow River and Huai River Valleys of China, where the crop is rotated with maize. Meanwhile, along and around the Yangtze River Valley, it is instead more commonly rotated with rice.
This wheat zone is located at the northern edge of the autumn-sown wheat area where winter-habit is obligatory. It includes Beijing, Tianjin, north central Hebei, southeastern and central Shanxi, northern Shaanxi, and eastern Gansu, and accounts for about 9% of the total wheat area in China.
Wheat reached China around 8,000 years ago in 6000 BC, according to Huang Hsing-tsung in Fermentations and Food Science, part of an epic book series on Chinese civilization and science. This was several millennia after people around modern-day Turkey domesticated wheat.
Wheat serves as one of the staple foods of the Chinese population, accounting for 40% of the grain consumption in this country. Wheat is cultivated extensively in the Yellow River and Huai River Valleys of China, where the crop is rotated with maize.
Where is wheat grown?
Wheat is grown all over the world, in many different countries, as different types of wheat are able to thrive in a diverse range of climates and soil conditions. In the US, wheat is grown in 42 states, but the US is only the fourth largest producer of wheat. Their annual production of the crop is around 55 million metric tons.
In the US, wheat is grown in 42 states, but the US is only the fourth largest producer of wheat. Their annual production of the crop is around 55 million metric tons.
Where does wheat thrive?
Wheat grows in a variety of climates and soils, but thrives best in temperate zones. It’s an annual grass, which means it produces a harvest once a year. The tall plant typically boasts hollow stems, long leaves and heads of compacted flowers.
Wheat plants can be grown and planted in a wide range of agro-climatic conditions. The plants have high flexibility and hence can be grown in the tropical, sub-tropical zones and temperate zone. The most suitable climate for wheat farming is moist and cool weather.