Wheat is grown on 13 % of the cropped area of India. Next to rice, wheat is the most important food-grain of India and is the staple food of millions of Indians, particularly in the northern and north-western parts of the country.

It is rich in proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates and provides balanced food. India is the fourth largest producer of wheat in the world after Russia, the USA and China and accounts for 8.7% of the world’s total production of wheat.

Its cultivation is mainly done in Rabi season but in Lahaul-Spiti, kinnor districts, Chamba districts and Bharmour the cultivation is done in summer season (i.e. in April, May-September, October). In Himachal Pradesh, in 2004-2005 year 154.08 thousand/acre of land is used for wheat cultivation. From which production is 286.5 thousand tonnes and an average yield is 7.75qtl/acre.
 

It is grown in variety of soils of India. Soils with a clay loam or loam texture, good structure and moderate water holding capacity are ideal for wheat cultivation. Very porous and soil having less water holding capacity are not suitable for wheat cultivation. Under dry condition, heavy soils with good drainage are suitable for cultivation. Heavy soils with poor structure and poor drainage are not suitable as wheat is sensitive to water logging.

Saptdhara (Atayu Selection): It is a winter season variety which is suitable for dry temperate regions. The plant has medium height. It has solid and hard grains. The variety is resistant to yellow or brown rust. It can also be used as green fodder in the end of May month. It gives an average yield of 15qtl/acre and 30qtl/acre of green fodder.

Raj -3777: Late sown variety. It is more yield giving new variety. The variety is resistant to Karnal bunt. The variety is developed by cross between H.S. 295 and Raj 3765. It has hard and solid grains. The variety is suitable for irrigated and rainfed areas. It gives an average yield of 11-13qtl/acre in rainfed areas and 19-21qtl/acre in irrigated areas.

H.S. -277: It is a late sowing variety which is cultivated in rainfed areas of low and medium hilly regions. It is medium height variety which is cultivation in semi-winter season. The variety is resistant to yellow rust. It gives an average yield of 12.5qtl/acre.

V.L. -829: New variety developed for rainfed areas of low and medium hilly regions. It is an early sown variety.The variety is resistant to yellow and brown rust and loose smut. The variety contains 11.4% of protein content. The grains are juicy and semi-hard. It gives an average yield of 12-13qtl/acre.

H.P.W-251:New variety developed for rainfed areas of low and medium hilly regions. It is an early sown variety. The variety is specially developed for those areas in which Maize-Wheat crop rotation is followed. The variety is quite resistant to yellow and brown rust and is fully resistant to loose smut. The variety contains 11% protein content. it gives an average yield of 14qtl/acre.

Chandrika (H.P.W-184):The variety is suitable for growing in rainfed and irrigated areas of low and medium hilly regions. In this variety the outbreak of yellow rust is more. The variety is resistant to loose smut, hill bunt and karnal bunt. The plant of this variety is deep green in color. The grains are juicy, medium thick and shiny. It contains 12% of protein content. The variety is resistant to fertilizers. In rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre and in irrigated areas;it gives an average yield of 16qtl/acre.

Onkaar (H.P.W-155):This variety is suitable for timely sowingin rainfed condition of high hilly areas and irrigated and rainfed areas of intermediate hilly regions. The variety is resistant to yellow and brown rust. The variety is also resistant to loose smut and leaf wilting disease. In rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 15-17qtl/acre and in irrigated areas; it gives an average yield of 10-12qtl/acre.

Surbhi (H.P.W-89):It is a high yielding variety which is resistant to brown and yellow rust. The variety is suitable for sowing in irrigated and rainfed areas of low and intermediate hilly regions. The variety is resistant to fertilizers. In rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 11qtl/acre and in irrigated areas; it gives an average yield of 14qtl/acre.

Palam (H.P.W.-147):It is a high yielding variety which is resistant to brown and yellow rust. The variety is suitable for sowing in irrigated and rainfed areas of low and intermediate hilly regions. The variety is resistant to brown and yellow rust. In rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 10qtl/acre and in irrigated areas; it gives an average yield of 13.75qtl/acre.

H.S. -240:The variety is resistant to brown and yellow rust. The variety is suitable for sowing in irrigated and rainfed areas of low and intermediate hilly regions. It is a medium height and late maturing variety. The variety is resistant to yellow rust, brown rust and loose smut. In rainfed areas, it gives an average yield of 11qtl/acre and in irrigated areas; it gives an average yield of 15qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

Raj 1482: This variety has dark green color plant having 80-90cm of height. They have more pods, thick grains, shiny and shade color grains. It gives an average yield of 15-16 qtl/acre. The variety gets mature within 126-134 days. It is mainly used for making breads. It has 11-12% of protein content.

PBW 502: Suitable for irrigated areas. Plant height is about 90-100cm. Ready to harvest in 130-135 days. It is resistant to Karnal Bunt. It gives yield up to 18-20 qtl/acre.

PBW 550: Plant height is about 83-92cm. Ready to harvest in 128-135 days. It has thick grains which are golden yellow in color. The weight of 1000 grains is approximately 38gm. It gives yield of about 18-24 qtl/acre.

HD 2697: Plant height is about 83-91cm. Ready to harvest in 128-133 days. This variety is good for cultivation in heavy land. It has thick grains which are golden in color. Gives an average yield of about 18-24 qtl/acre.

Raj 6560: Suitable for irrigated areas. Plant height is about 90-100cm. Ready to harvest in 130-135 days. It gives yield upto 18-22 qtl/acre.

Raj 3077: This variety is also known as “Wonder Wheat”. The plant is having 115-118cm of height. It gives an average yield of 15-16 qtl/acre. The variety gets mature within 126-134 days. It is mainly used for making breads. It has 11-12.5% of protein content.

Raj 4079: Ready to harvest in 115-120 days. Plant height is about 75-80cm. Gives good result under normal as well as irrigated conditions. It shows resistance to lodging. It gives yield upto 19-21 qtl/acre. Grains are bold, medium size and hard. This variety can survive in warm climate of Rajasthan and gives high yield.
 
Raj 4037: The plant is having 83-95cm of height. It gives an average yield of 15-16 qtl/acre. The variety gets mature within 120 days. It is mainly used for making breads. It has 11-12% of protein content. The variety is resistant to black or stem rust.

Raj 4120: Ready to harvest in 110 to 124 days. Plant height is about 80-94cm. Gives good result under normal as well as irrigated conditions. Stem is strong thus it shows resistance to lodging. It gives yield upto 20-24 qtl/acre. This variety can survive in warm climate of Rajasthan and gives high yield.

DBW 17: Plant height is about 80-85cm. Ready to harvest in 130-132 days. It is resistant to Karnal Bunt. Stem is strong thus it shows resistance to lodging. Grains are bold, medium size and hard. Gives good result under normal as well as irrigated conditions. Gives yield upto 16-20 qtl/acre.

Raj 4238: Ready to harvest in 115-120 days. Plant height is about 82-86cm, stem is strong enough and prevent crop from lodging. It is resistant to Karnal Bunt. Grains are of medium size and gives yield upto 16-20 qtl/acre.

WH 1080: Ready to harvest in 127-133 days. Plant height is about 85-101cm. Under irrigated condition gives yield upto 16-18 qtl/acre. Its grains are amber, medium bold and hard.

PBW 175: Ready to harvest in 130-132 days. Plant height is about 90-105cm. Its grains are amber, medium bold and hard. Under irrigated conditions, gives yield upto 15-16 qtl/acre.

CCNNRVOI(Raj Molya Rodhak-1): It is suitable for timely sown irrigated conditions. Plant height is about 84cm. Grains are amber color, semi hard and round shape. Ready to harvest in 120-125 days. It gives yield upto 15-18 qtl/acre. This variety is popular in cereal cyst nematodes infected areas.

Late sown varieties:

Raj 3765: The variety can be sown third week of December to mid-January. Plant height is about 85-95cm. This variety gets ready to harvest within 120 days. It gives an average yield of 16-20 qtl/acre. 

Raj 3777: The variety gets mature in 90-95 days. The sowing time for this variety is in mid-January. It gives an average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre.

Sandy soil varieties:
It requires less water for their growth.

C 306: The variety is used in barren land and it requires less irrigation. Plant has long height. It has medium sized grains and is of golden color. It gives an average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre.

P.B.W. 299: Plant height is 95cm. The variety gets mature in 150-160 days and the variety is sown earlier. It gives an average yield of 16-18 qtl/acre. Along with these varieties PBW 396 and WH 147 is also cultivated.

Saline soil varieties: Use varieties such as Raj 3077, K.R.L 1-4 and WH 157 for saline areas which will give good yield.

Other state varieties:

RAJ-3765: It matures in 120-125 days. Heat tolerant and suitable for zero tillage, Susceptible to brown rust, moderately susceptible to stripe rust and Karnal bunt. The yield is near about 21 qtl/ acre.

UP-2338: It matures in 125-130 days. It is susceptible to leaf rust and moderately susceptible to stripe rust. Susceptible to Karnal bunt and tolerant to blight. The yield is near about 21 qtl/acre.

UP-2328: It matures in 130-135 days. Ear heads are white hard, sarbati colour & medium size grains. It is suitable for irrigated areas. The yield is near about 20-22 qtl/acre.

Sonalika: Early maturing single dwarf wheat with wide adaptation and attractive amber grains. It is suitable for late sowing and resistant to rusts.

Kalyansona: A double dwarf wheat with wide adaptation recommended for cultivation all over India. This variety is very vulnerable to rust. Therefore, It is advisable to grow it only in rust free regions.

UP-(368): High yielding variety developed by Pantnagar. It is resistant to rust and Karnal bunt.

WL-(711): It is single dwarf, high yielding and medium maturing variety. It is moderately susceptible to powdery mildew and Karnal bunt.

UP-(319): It is triple dwarf wheat with high level of rust resistance. To avoid losses to shattering, it should be harvested at appropriate time.

Late varieties of wheat - HD-2851, HD-2932, RAJ-3765, PBW-373, UP-2338, WH-306, 1025

PBW 590: It is grown in all areas of Punjab. It gets ready for harvesting within 128 days. It is resistant to yellow and brown rusts diseases. It has an average height of 80cm.

PBW 509: It is grown in all areas of Punjab except sub-mountainous region. It gets ready for harvesting within 130 days. It is resistant to yellow and brown rusts diseases. It has an average height of 85cm.

PBW 373: It is grown in all areas of Punjab. It gets ready for harvesting within 140 days. It is resistant to brown rusts diseases. It has an average height of 90cm.

Wheat crop requires a well pulverized but compact seed-bed for good and uniform germination. After harvest of previous crop, the field should be ploughed with disc or mould board plough. Give one deep ploughing followed by two or three harrowing and 2-3 planking. In rain fed areas, prepare field in such a way that it will help in conservation of moisture. Field are usually prepared by giving one deep ploughing with iron plough followed by two or three times local plough and planking.

Carried out ploughing in evening time and kept furrow open whole night to absorb some moisture from dew. Planking should be done after each ploughing. At the time of last ploughing mix Urea@35-40kg/acre, it will improve wheat germination. Also apply Azatobactor@2.5kg + Phosphetic culture@2.5kg+Tricoderma@2.5kg mix with 100kg-125kg Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cow dung, broadcast at time of last ploughing.

 

Time of sowing:
Wheat must be sown at the optimum time. For rainfed areas in low hilly areas complete sowing from last week of October to mid-November and for rainfed areas in high hilly areas complete sowing from first week of October to mid-October whereas under irrigated conditions in low hilly areas complete sowing in end-December and for irrigated conditions in high hilly areas complete sowing in mid-October.

Spacing:
For normal sown crop a spacing of 22cm between rows is recommended. When sowing is delayed a closer spacing of 18 cm should be adopted.

Sowing depth:
The sowing depth should be 5 cm.

Method of sowing:
1. Seed drill
2. Broadcasting method
3. Zero tillage drill
4. Rotavator
 

Seed rate:
For sowing, use seed rate of 37-40kg/acre. For rainfed areas, if sowing is done after 20th December then use seed rate of 62.5kg/acre.

Seed treatment:
To protect seeds from termite, false smut, loose smut treat seeds with Chlorpyriphos@4ml/kg of seeds or Tebuconazole 2 DS@1.5-1.87gm/kg seed or with Carbendazim or Thiram@2gm/kg of seeds 24 hours before sowing. After chemical treatment treat seed with T. viride 1.15 % WP@4gm/kg of seeds. The IPM module involves the seed treatment with T. viride @4g/kg seed + Carboxin 75WP@1.25g/kg seed.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply fertilizer depending upon soil test. With the help of soil test we can give fertilizer dose as per soil requirement. For timely sown wheat, apply 50 kg of Nitrogen (Urea@108kg/acre), 25kg of Phosphorus (SSP@156kg/acre) and 12kg of Potash (MOP@20kg/acre). Apply half dose of Nitrogen and full dose of Phosphorus, Potash at the time of sowing. After first irrigation, apply remaining half dose of Nitrogen.

Application of zinc Sulphate@10kg/acre was found to increase the yield substantially. Zinc deficiency can also be corrected by foliar spray of 0.5% Zinc Sulphate. Take two to three sprays at 15 days intervals. For better tillering and yield, spray 19:19:19 water soluble fertilizer@ 5gm + Sticker @ 0.5ml/Ltr water after 30 days of sowing.
 

The number of irrigations required will vary depending upon soil type, water availability etc. Crown root initiation and heading stages are the most critical to moisture stress. For dwarf high yielding varieties, give pre sowing irrigation. For heavy soils, Four to six irrigations are required whereas for light soils 6-8 irrigations are necessary. Under limited water supply apply irrigation only at critical stage. When water is available for only one irrigation, then apply at crown root initiation stage. When two irrigations are available then apply at crown root initiation and flowering stage. Where three irrigations are possible, 1st irrigation should be given at CRI stage and 2nd at late jointing (boot) and 3rd at milking stage. CRI stage is most important stage for irrigation. It has been found that each week delay in 1st irrigation from CRI stage results in yield reduction of 83-125kg per acre.

First irrigation should be given 20-25 days after sowing. This is crown root initiation stage and moisture stress at this stage will lead to yield loss. At tillering stage within 40-45 days after sowing, apply second irrigation. Third irrigation within 60-65 DAS at late jointing stage. At flowering stage (within 80-85 days) give fourth irrigation. Fifth irrigation at dough stage (within 100-105 DAS).
 
Recommended time of irrigations is as below in the table:

CHEMICAL WEED CONTROL: Preferred because of less labor requirement and no mechanical damage during manual weeding. As pre-emergence, apply Pendimethalin (Stomp 30 EC) @1 Ltr at 0-3 days before sowing in 200 liters of water/acre. Use 2, 4-D @250 ml in 150 ltr water for controlling broad leaf weeds.

Wheat is mainly grown with maize/rice crop. In irrigated conditions Rice-radish-potato, maize-radish-onion, maize-toria-potato and maize-toria + cauliflower-mustard, maize-mustard crop rotation can be taken up successfully whereas in rainfed areas maize-toria+ cauliflower-mustard, maize-chickpea and maize+ soybean-wheat can be taken up successfully.

• Pest and their control:
  

Aphids: These are nearly transparent, soft-bodied sucking insects. When present in sufficient numbers, aphids can cause yellowing and premature death of leaves. Infestation usually occurs during second fortnight of January till crop harvesting.

For management of Aphid, use chrysoperla predators 5-8 thousand/acre or use 50 gm/ Ltr neem concentrate. In cloudy weather infestation of aphid is occurred. Spray with Thiomethoxam or Imidacloprid 40-60 ml/ acre in 100 Ltr of water.
 

Termite:Termites attack the crop at various growth stages, from seedlings to maturity. The severely damaged plants can be easily uprooted and look wilted and dried. In case roots are partially damaged, the plants show yellowing. To control broadcast 1 Ltr of Chlorpyriphos 20 EC mix with 20 kg sand/acre then applies a light irrigation.

• Disease and their control

Flag smut: It is seed borne disease.Infection spread through wind.It is favored by cool,humid conditions during flowering period of the host plant.Treat the seed with fungicides like carboxyl (Vitavax 75 WP @ 2.5 gm/kg of seeds),Carbendazim(Bavistin 50 WP) @ 2.5 gm/kg seed),Tebuconazole(Raxil 2 DS) @ 1.25 gm/kg of seed) if the disease level in the seed lot is high.If it is low to moderate,treat the seed with a combination of Trichoderma viride @ 4 gm/kg seed) and half the recommended dose of Carboxin(Vitavax 75 WP) @1.25 gm/kg seed.

Powdery mildew:Grayish white powdery growth appears on the leaf, sheath, stem and floral parts.Powdery growth later become black lesion and cause drying of leaves and other parts. When incidence of disease is observed, spray with Wet table sulphur@2 gm/ Ltr of water or Carbendazim @200 gm/acre. In case of high incidence, spray with Propioconazole@1 ml/ Ltr of water.
 

Brown rust: It is favored by warm temperatures (15-30° C) and humid conditions. Brown rust is characterized by reddish- brown spores that occur in oval or elongated pustules. The disease can develop rapidly when free moisture is available and temperatures are near 20° C. Successive generations of urediospores can be produced every 10-14 days if conditions are favorable.

For control of this disease, follow mixed cropping with suitable crops. Avoid excessive use of Nitrogen fertilizer. Spray Zineb Z-78@400 gm/acre or Propiconazole@1 ml/Liter of water.

Stripe/Yellow rust: The ideal growth conditions for yellow rust are temperatures of between 8-13° C for spore germination and penetration, and 12-15° C for further development and with free water. The yield penalties from yellow rust in wheat can range from 5% to as high as 30% in high disease pressure scenarios. The pustules of stripe rust, which, contain yellow to orange-yellow urediospores, usually form narrow stripes on the leaves.

For control of this disease, use rust resistant variety. Follow crop rotation and adopt mix cropping pattern. Avoid excess use of Nitrogen. When symptom observed, do dusting of Sulphur @ 5-10 kg/acre or take spray of Mancozeb @ 2 gm/Ltr or spray the crop with Propiconazole (Tilt) 25 EC @1 ml / liter of water.

Karnal bunt: It is seed and soil borne disease. Infection occurs at flowering stage. Cloudy weather condition during spike emergence to grain filling stage of crop leads to development of disease. If the rains occur during the month of February in north Indian plains (disease-prone areas), the disease is likely to come with higher severity.

For control of this disease use karnal bunt resistant  varieties. For management of this disease, take one spray of Propiconazole (Tilt 25 EC) @ 1 ml/ Ltr of water at ear head emergence stage.

Harvesting of high yielding dwarf variety is carried out when leaves and stem turn yellow and become fairly dry. To avoid loss in yield crop should be harvested before it is dead ripe. Timely harvesting is needed for optimum quality and consumer acceptance. The right stage for harvesting is when moisture in grain reaches to 25-30%. For manual harvesting use serrate edge sickles. Combines harvester are also available which can do harvesting, threshing and winnowing of wheat crop in single operation.

 

After manual harvesting, dried crops for three to four days on threshing floor so that moisture content of grain comes down to 10-12% and then threshing is done by trampling bullocks or thresher attached to bullocks. Direct sun drying and excessive drying should be avoided and the grains should be packed in sound clean gunny bags to minimize the losses. The Hapur tekka is a cylindrical rubberized cloth structure supported by bamboo poles on a metal tube base, and has a small hole in the bottom through which grain can be removed. Large scale grain storage is done in CAP (Cover and Plinth) and silos. To keep away several pest and disease during storage, use 1% malathion solution for disinfection of gunny bags. Properly clean the storage house, remove the cracks and fill the rat burrows with cement. White wash the storage house before storing grains and spray Malathion 50 EC @ 3 Ltr/100 Sq. meters. Place the heap of bags 50 cm away from wall and in between the heaps give some gaps. Also there should be a gap between the roof and the bags.