● Pre-Sowing: Vital for uniform seed germination if soil moisture is low.
● Crown Root Initiation (CRI): 20–25 days after sowing (DAS); the single most critical stage where stress causes severe yield loss.
● Tillering / Late Jointing Stage: 40–45 DAS to support active tiller growth and stem elongation.
● Flowering / Heading Stage: 75–80 DAS to ensure proper grain setting.
● Milking / Grain Filling Stage: 95–100 DAS to help grain development before maturity.