WHEAT

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is locally known as Gehun/Kanak belongs to family Poaceae. It is
the World’s number one cereal crop with an area of about 214 million hectare, which is about 14% of the
global arable land area. The area under wheat is almost static around 220 million hectare since last three
decades but its production has been increased by four fold due to improved varieties, increase in irrigation
and fertilizers use with modern production technologies. Wheat is the second most important food crop of
the country, which contributes nearly one-third of the total food grains production. It is consumed mostly
in the form of unleavened pan-backed bread, called chapati. Wheat is consumed in various other
preparations such as dalia, halwa, puri, upma, flakes, cakes, biscuits etc. It contains more proteins (10-
12%) than other cereals. Wheat has a relatively high content of niacin and thiamine. Wheat proteins are of
special significance beside nutrition; they provide characteristic substance gluten, which is very essential
for bakers, because gluten provides the structural frame work for the spongy, cellular texture of bread and
other baked products. Wheat straw is used for feeding the cattle.

Global Scenario (2013-14)

Country Area Production Yield % to World

(mha) (mt) (t/ha) Production
Germany 3.22 25.6 7.95 3.57
UK 1.98 15.4 7.80 2.15
Denmark 0.7 5.20 7.48 0.73
France 5.31 38.7 7.30 5.40
Egypt 1.40 8.95 6.39 1.25
China 24.1 126.0 5.23 17.6
Uzbekistan 1.40 6.80 4.86 0.95
Poland 2.20 15.4 4.36 2.15
Italy 1.84 7.10 3.86 0.99
India 31.2 95.9 3.08 13.4
World 222.6 716.1 3.22
(Source – USDA)

Origin
According to De Candolle wheat was originated in the valley of Euphrates and Tigris and spread
from there to China, Egypt and other parts of worlds. But, Vavilov believed that durum wheat was
originated in Abyssinia, while soft wheat was probably originated in the region of western Pakistan, south
western Afghanistan and the southern parts of mountainous Babshara.

Area, Production and Productivity

The major Wheat producing countries in the world are China, India, United States, Russia and
France. In India the major wheat growing states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan with a
highest productivity in Punjab (45.96 q/ha), Haryana (44.07 q/ha) and Rajasthan (3175 q/ha) with all
India average of 30.93 q/ha. The average productivity of wheat in Haryana during 2009-10 was 42.13
kg/ha. The area under wheat has steadily gone up since the start of the Wheat Revolution in 1967 and its
production and productivity has increased tremendously. The overall increase in area, production and
productivity of wheat in our country during 1965-2010 had been 207%, 655% and 317%, respectively.
Another major change that has occurred in wheat cultivation since independence is that the proportion of
area under irrigated wheat has increased greatly. It has gone up from 34% in 1967 to 51 % in 1970 and
more than 89.6% in 2006-07. Thus the crop has now become largely irrigated as compared to being
primarily rainfed earlier.
Table 2.Area, production and productivity of wheat in important states of India (2015-16)
State Area (m ha) % to Production % to Yield (Kg./
All - India Million All - India Hectare)
Tonnes
Uttar Pradesh 28 9.65 31.91 26.87 28.74 2786
Madhya Pradesh 5.91 19.55 17.69 18.92 2993
Punjab 3.5 11.57 16.08 17.2 4596
Haryana 2.58 8.52 11.35 12.14 4407
Rajasthan 3.11 10.28 9.87 10.56 3175
Bihar 2.16 7.13 4.57 5.08 2205
Gujarat .85 2.82 2.48 2.66 2919
All India 30.23 100 93.50 100 3093

Classification of wheat
According to Bayles and Clark (1954) the 12 cultivated species of Triticum are Triticum
aestivum/vulgare (Common bread Wheat), T.durum (Durum/macroni Wheat), T. dicoccum (Emmer
Wheat), T.sphaerococcum (Shot Wheat), T. macha (Macha Wheat), T. vavilovi (Vavilovii Wheat), T.
spelta (Spelt Wheat), T. compactum (Club Wheat), T. polonicum (Polish Wheat), T. turgidum (Poulard
Wheat), T. persicum/carthlicum (Persian Wheat) and T. monococcum (Einkorn Wheat). Out of total 18
species of Triticum genus, Perival (1921) classified 12 cultivated species into three distinct groups;
deploids (Einkorn Wheat) , tetraploids ( Emmer, Durum, Persian, Poulard and Polish wheat) and
hexaploids ( Common, Club, Spelt, Shot, Macha and Vavilovii wheat), with 7, 14 and 21 chromosomes,
respectively in their cells. T. sphaerococcum has now practically gone out of cultivation because of its
low productivity and high susceptibility to diseases. Only spring-type wheat varieties are grown in the
country, though these are raised in winter.
Common bread wheat (T. aestivum) is the most important species, occupying more than 90% of the
total wheat area in the country. It is grown all over India from the sea-level up to an elevation of 3,500 m
in the Himalayas. Mexican dwarf wheat developed by incorporating dwarfing gene Norin 10 was
introduced in India by Dr. N.E. Borlaug (Noble Leurate).
Macaroni wheat (T. durum) is the second most important species, occupying nearly 10% of the wheat
area. Earlier its cultivation was primarily confined to the central and southern India, with very small area
in Punjab and West Bengal. Its cultivation was most common under rain fed conditions only, on account
of high susceptibility to rusts. But with the development of high-yielding semi-dwarf types, a large area
has come up in Punjab under irrigated conditions. The durum wheat is good for making suit, semya,
sphagetti.
Emmer wheat (T. dicoccum ), is grown on a very restricted scale in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where it is known as popatiya, khapli, ravva, godhumalu, samba etc. A
large pocket of several thousand hectares of this species exists in Belgaum district of Karnataka along the
river Krishna. It has a very high degree of heat tolerance and can be sown as late as December and
January without much fear of heat damage during grain filling, even in the southern zone. It is preferred
for several south Indian dishes, which use granular form of wheat.

Growth stages
Pre-establishment stage:
a. Pre-emergence (up to 5 DAS): Sprouting of seeds by giving rise to seminal roots and
coleoptiles.
b. Emergence (6 DAS): Appearance of coleoptiles from germinating seeds above the soil
surface.
Vegetative stage:
a. Seedling (up to 30 DAS): The young plants establish larger root systems in this stage. This
 stage may be further differentiated as one leaf, two leaves, three leaves and four leaf stages.
b. Crown root initiation (22 DAS): This coincides with three or four leaf stage in the plant.
At this stage the roots emerge from the crown disc.
c. Tillering (35 - 45 DAS): Plants develop crown and branch out into tillers from their base
at soil surface.
d. Jointing (65 DAS): This is the stage at which the plants start elongating when the nodes
start developing above the crown node.
Reproductive stage:
a. Booting (75 DAS) in this stage the uppermost leaf swells out into flag holding the spike into it.
b. Heading (85 DAS) The spikes start emerging out from the flag leaf sheath at this stage.
c. Flowering/Anthesis (95 DAS) Anthesis of florets and fertilization of ovaries take place at this
stage.
Post- Anthesis stage
Grain filling (105-135 DAS): The ovaries, after fertilization, start elongation into seeds or ovules passing
through Milk stage (105 DAS), Soft dough stage (120 DAS) and Hard dough stage (135 DAS).
Maturity stage: Colour of glumes changes and kernels become fairly hard at this stage. There are two
stages of maturity i.e. Physiological (140 DAS) and harvestable maturity (145 DAS)

Climatic requirement
In India wheat is a winter season (rabi) crop. The sowing is done in autumn and harvesting in
summer. The high temperature at both ends of the crop season determine the duration available for
cultivation, which ranges from 100 days in south to more than 145 days in north-western plains and 180
days in the hills. The best wheats are produced in areas favored with cool, moist weather during the major
portion of the growing period followed by dry, warm weather to enable the grain to ripen properly. The
optimum temperature range for ideal germination of wheat seed is 20 to 250C though the seeds can
germinate in the temperature range of 3.5-350C. During the heading and flowering stages, excessively
high or low temperature and drought are harmful to wheat crop. The temperature conditions at the time of
grain filling and development are very crucial for yield. Temperature above 25oC during this period tends
to depress grain weight. Early seeding severely restricts tillering capability, crop duration and yield
potential of most varieties. Very hot temperature during grain-ripening period can result in grain
shriveling.

Soil requirement
Well-drained loams and clayey loams are considered the best for growing wheat. However, good
crop of wheat can be raised in sandy loams and the black soils also. Durum wheat is considered more
suitable for cultivation in heavy and black soils, whereas aestivum wheat is grown in all types of soils.

Crop rotations
In Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh where rice is now extensively grown in kharif and
is followed by wheat. Similarly, wheat is now extensively cultivated after rice in eastern Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar. The sugarcane-wheat and cotton-wheat rotations are also common in several parts, in northern
India under irrigated condition Pearl millet--wheat, Sorghum-wheat and jute-wheat are other rotations
followed in some parts of the country. Development of short-duration varieties of pigeonpea has made the
growing of wheat feasible after harvest of this crop. In north-western India and in the foot-hill tarai areas
of Uttar Pradesh, irrigated wheat is also grown as a companion crop between rows of sugarcane and
potato. In the black soils of central and peninsular India, dryland wheat is rotated with sorghum, pearl
milet or cotton in kharif in the preceding year. The growing of quick-maturing crops, viz. greengram,
onion, coriander and even groundnut or early sown maize as catch crops before wheat are fairly common.
All over India, the growing of rainfed wheat mixed with Chickpea, lentil, mustard, linseed, barley and
safflower is quite common. Even under irrigated conditions a row of mustard for every 8 to 12 rows of
wheat is a common practice.
Field preparation
Wheat crop requires a well pulverized but compact seedbed for good and uniform germination.
With 3 to 4 ploughings, repeated harrowing, cultivation and planking before sowing to produce firm
seedbed are considered desirable for raising a good crop of wheat. Very timely cultivation to conserve
moisture in the soil is essential under rainfed condition. In the black cotton soils, blade harrow (bhakar) is
used instead of the plough. For field prepration 1 to 3 ploughings with an iron plough may sometimes
precede the use of bhakar. Pre-sowing irrigation (palewa or rauni) of field, followed by cultivation and
planking to prepare a fine well pulverized seed bed. Recently zero-tillage and minimal tillage sowing
practices using a specially designed zero-till seeding-cum-fertilizer drill have been recommended to save
the time required to prepare proper seedbed under the rice-wheat rotation, particularly when medium long
and long duration varieties of rice (or basmati types) are grown and the fields get vacated very late in
November and December. Such practices can be followed even for timely sown wheat to reduce
expenditure on field preparation. However, these are successful when weeds are not a serious problem or
when these are controlled with the use of herbicides.

Resource conservation technologies (RCT)

1. Laser land leveling: This is precursor resource conservation technology that is a must for the proper
implementation of other RCT’s for greater productivity and profitability. This technology increases
productivity, increases area under crop, saves water and other inputs, enhances factor productivity and
reduces costs of production.
2. Surface seeding: This RCT is specifically suited to single crop diara lands of eastern parts of India
where soil remains wet after rice harvesting. The technology requires no tillage, broadcast dry or soaked
seed under saturated condition, scope in areas where soil remains wet after rice harvesting and doubles
the cropping intensity.
3. Zero tillage: The main features of the technology are; zero tillage drill is simple and affordable, direct
drilling in untilled condition, advances sowing time realizing higher yields, saves more than 90% fuel
energy and time, similar yield at lower cost in comparison to timely sown wheat with conventional tillage
and better management of herbicide resistant biotypes of Phalaris minor
4. Bed Planting: The Furrow irrigated raised bed system (FIRBS) accommodate 2-3 rows of wheat on
raised bed with 75-90 cm spacing between beds. The furrows in between the beds are used for irrigation
purpose. The method helps in saving of water upto 40% without loss of yield.
Sowing time
Normally wheat is sown when the average daily temperatures fall to around 22-23°C, which happens only
in November in most wheat-growing areas. Sowing wheat while the temperatures are high (around 25°C)
results in poor germination reduced tillering and early onset of flowering, thereby exposing the floral
parts to cold damage. All these factors depress the crop yields. Only few varieties, viz. C 306 and WH
533 are suitable for sowing in the end of October to Ist week of November, which makes these suitable
for rainfed conditions where seeding is done early.
Under irrigated conditions, the first fortnight of November is considered the optimum time for sowing the
medium and long-duration varieties, which are capable of producing the highest possible yield.
Seed rate
For varieties with the medium sized grains (38 to 44 g for 1,000 seeds) a seed rate of 100 kg/ha is
recommended. For bold seeded varieties (around 45 g or more/1,000 seeds) a seed rate of 125 kg/ha is
optimum. For late-sown and mild salinity condition, 25% higher seed rate (125-150 kg/ha) is
recommended.

Method of sowing
In many places the seed is sown by hand in furrows behind the plough, drawn by bullocks by the
kera method. In Paddy - wheat rotation areas the sowing of wheat should be done with the help of zero till
seed- cum -fertilizer drill. The seed of semi-dwarf varieties should be placed at seeding depth of 4 to 5cm
depth, since they have a short coleoptile, but that of the tall types can be placed up to a depth of 6 to 7 cm.
For irrigated timely sown wheat, a spacing of 20 cm between the rows is considered optimum. For
irrigated late-sown conditions, the row spacing is reduced to 18 cm. Under rainfed conditions seed is
required to be placed deeper, and after sowing, the furrows are left open. Rainfed wheat is sown at
relatively wide spacing of about 25 to 30 cm between the rows. Some farmers sow the crop by
broadcasting seeds in the well-prepared fields followed by harrowing. This is an undesirable practice
since seed cannot be spread uniformly, and get placed at variable depths resulting in erratic crop stand.
However, in case this method has to be adopted under certain constraints then seed rate should be
increased by 25% and moisture availability ensured in top-soil level.

Varieties for central zone:

Condition Variety
Timely sown, Irrigated
Bread Wheat : WH 1142, HI 1544, GW 366, GW 322, GW 273
Raj 4037, Raj 3765, Lok 1
Durum Wheat : HI 8737, HI 8713, MPO 1215, HI 8498

Late sown, Irrigated: MP 3336, MP 1203, HD 2932, HD 2864, MP 4010, Raj 3765

Timely sown, Rainfed/ Bread Wheat: DBW 110, MP 3288, MP 3173, HI 1531, HI 1500
Restricted irrigated Durum Wheat: HD 4672

Timely Sowing under Salinity and Alkalinity Conditions: KRL 210, KRL 1-4, KRL 19

Fertilizer requirement
It is better to apply fertilizer on soil test basis. Under irrigated conditions for dwarf varieties of
wheat, 150 kgN+60 kg P2O5+60 Kg K2O + 25 Kg ZnSO4/ha is recommended. While for tall/desi variety
60 kg N+30 kg P2O5+30 Kg K2O/ha is recommended under irrigated conditions. Half nitrogen and full
dose of phosphorus, potash and zinc should be drilled at the time of sowing. Remaining half nitrogen
should be applied after first irrigation. If the zinc is not applied at the time of sowing then spray twice
0.5% zinc sulphate + 2.5% urea at 45 and 60 days after sowing.
Under rainfed conditions 30 kg N+15 Kg P2O5/ha is recommended. All the fertilizers must be
drilled at the time of sowing. Treat 100 kg seed with 10 pkts of azotobacter + 10 Pkts. of P.S.B before
sowing will improve the wheat nutrition as INM. If wheat is sown after legumes or fallow then 25% dose
of nitrogen can be reduced. In case of light soils, nitrogen can be splitted at three times instead of two
times. In light soils, if the deficiency of nitrogen is observed then spray 3% urea at tillering stage.

Irrigation management
Generally 5-6 irrigations are applied to wheat crop in the absence of winter rainfall. The first irrigation
should be applied at CRI stage (22DAS). In case of late sowing 1 st irrigation should be delayed to 4 weeks
after sowing. Irrigation at CRI should not be avoided in wheat crop. Depending upon the irrigation
avalability the following schedule should be followed.
Available number of irrigations Irrigation application (DAS)
2 (at CRI and heading) 22, 85
3 (at CRI, Jointing and milking) 22, 65, 105
4 (at CRI, Tillering, heading and milking) 22, 45, 85, 105
5 (at CRI, Tillering, heading, milking and dough) 22, 45, 65, 105, 120
6 (at CRI, Tillering, jointing heading, milking and dough) 22, 45, 65, 85, 105, 120

In high water table areas, after pre-sowing irrigation only two irrigations at 25 and 85 DAS are sufficient.
Weed management
Weeds reduce the grain yield of wheat by10 to 80% depending upon intensity and type of weed flora
under different cropping systems. The major weeds of wheat are:
(A) Grassy weeds: Phalaris minor, Avena ludoviciana, Poa annua, Polypogon monspliensis and Lolium
temulentum.
(B) Broadleaf weeds: Chenopodium album, Rumex dentatus, Melilotus indica, Medicago denticulata,
Anagallis arvensis, Vicia sativa , Lathyrus aphaca, Malva parviflora, Chenopodium murale, Convolvulus
arvensis, Coronopus didymus, Fumaria parviflora, Cirsium arvense and others.
Integration of cultural, mechanical and chemical methods give good control of weeds in wheat. Crop
rotation with pulses, oilseeds and fodder crop and hoeing after 35-40 DAS gives good control of weeds.

Chemical control of weeds in wheat

Weed flora Herbicide Dose g/ha Time of application DAS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I Grasses
Pendimethalin 1000-1500 Pre-emergence 1-3 DAS
(Stomp 30EC) (3333-4950)

Clodinafop 60 (400) Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Topik 15WP)

Fenoxaprop-ethyl 100-120 Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Puma Super 10EC) (1000-1200)

Pinoxaden 35-40 (700-800) Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Axial 5 EC)

Sulfosulfuron 33.3 (25) Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Leader 75 WG)

Isoproturon 1000 (1333) Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Arelon 75 WP)
II Broadleaved weeds
Pendimethalin 1000-1500 Pre-emergence 1-3 DAS
(Stomp 30EC) (3333-4950)

2,4-D-E 500(1315) Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Weed war 38 EC)

Metsulfuron 4 (20) Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Algrip 20 WP) P)

Carfentrazone 20 (50) Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Affinity 50 WDG)
III Both grassy and broadleaved weeds
Sulfosulfuron 33.3 (25) Post emergence 30-35 DAS
(Leader 75 WG)

Pendimethalin 1000-1500 Pre-emergence 1-3 DAS

(Stomp 30EC) (3333-4950)
 Isoproturon (Arelon 750 + 50 Post emergence 30-35 DAS
75WP)+2,4-D E (1000+1315)

Sulfosulfuron+ metsulfuron 25 +2 Post emergence 30-35 DAS

(Leader 75WG+ Algrip 20WP) (33.3)
• In areas having problem of isoproturon resistant P. minor, use sulfosulfuron, or clodinafop or fenoxaprop
or pendimethalin or pinoxaden. Sulfosulfuron and pendimethalin are effective against both grassy and
non-grassy weeds whereas, clodinafop, fenoxaprop, and pinoxaden are specific to grasses. Areas infested
with multiple herbicide resistant P. minor (resistant to isoproturon, clodinafop

Diseases management
Black rust or stem rust (Puccinia graminis tritici): Disease starts as dark reddish brown elongated
pustules without yellowingon leaves, leaf sheaths, stems and ear heads. The fringed epidermis covering
the pustule later ruptures, revealing powdery mass of brick red coloured uredospores on the stem. Later in
the season rusty coloured pustules turn black and telia are formed which produce teleutospores.
Brown rust or leaf rust (Puccinia recondita ): The pustules are circular, brown to orange brown
generally irregularly scattered or scattered around the central pustules on ventral side of the leaves but
also occur on leaf sheath, peduncles, internodes and ear heads. Later on rusty colour pustules turn black
when teleutospores are formed.
Yellow rust or stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis):The disease occurs under comparatively cooler
conditions. The symptom starts in the form of narrow, yellow to orange yellow stripes which become
clearer in adult plants. Later on these stripes turn black when teleutospores are formed. The infection also
occurs on leaves, leaf sheath, stem, glumes, awns and also some times on kernels. Foliar sprays with
Zineb (Dithane Z-78) or Mencozeb (Dithane M-45) @ 2kg/ha in 600 litre of water at the time of disease
appearance effectively control the disease.
Loose smut [Ustilago segatum var. tritici (Syn.= U. tritici)]: Symptoms can be seen at the time of ear
emergence. Normally, infected ear heads emerges earlier than the healthy ones. In the infected plants, the
ears are transformed into a black powdery mass consisting of smut spores, initially covered by a delicate
papery membrane which ruptures and exposes the spores. Subsequently these spores are dislodged by the
wind leaving behind the naked rachis. For control, Solar heat treatment- Soak the seeds in water for four
hours in the morning and spread the seed in the noon for drying during the months of May – June, and
seed treatment with Vitavax or Carbendazim (Bavistin) @ 2g or Tebuconazol (Raxil-2DS) @ 1g per kg
seed is quite effective.
Flag smut (Urocystis agropyri): The disease affect the leaves primarily, leaf sheath, culm and stem. The
affected leaves become twisted which later drop down like flag and finally wither away. These sori are
formed in the mesophyll tissue under the epidermis of the leaf. The epidermis ruptures exposing black
powder mass of the spores. The culms remain sterile and plants generally do not produce grain but
sometimes shriveled grains may be produced.
Control: Burning of diseased plant debris, shallow sowing and one to two year crop rotation reduces the
disease. Seed treatment with Vitavax or Carbendazim (Bavistin) @ 2g or Tebuconazol (Raxil-2DS) @ 1g
per kg seed is quite effective.
Karnal bunt (Neovossia indica = Syn. Tilletia indica): Symptoms are evident only on the grains. Only
few grains in an ear head are affected. In a stool, all the ears are not infected and in an ear all the grains
are not bunted. The infected spike lets may flare up the glumes to expose the bunted grains. The infected
seeds emit foul odour due to production of volatile chemical trimethylamine. For control: Use of disease
free seed and crop rotation should be followed.Seed treatment with Bavistin (2 g/kg seed) reduces the
seed borne inoculum.Foliar spray of carbendazim (Bavistin) or Dithane M 45 (0.2%), Hexaconazol or
propiconazole(0.1%) at anthesis stage gives effective control.
Powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis tritici):The pathogen attacks all the aerial parts of the plant. The
symptoms appear on the upper surface of the leaves as white to grayish brown colonies of fluffy
superficial powdery mass. As the disease advances, premature drying of the leaves takes place. Under
favourable conditions the pathogen covers leaf sheath, stem and glumes. Control: Burning of crop debris
and deep summer ploughing helps in eliminating the inoculum. Crop rotation helps in minimizing the
disease incidence. Foliar spray of Sulfex @ 2 2.5 kg/ha in 400-500 litre of water at first appearance of the
disease and repeat after 10-15 days
Ear Cockle (Mamni) and Yellow ear rot (Tundu) (Anguina tritici and Rathyi bacter): Diseased plants
have spreading tendency and swollen base, leaves become crinckled and twisted. Earheads contain dark
brown, hard and roundish galls (Mamni) instead of grains.For
Control: Before sowing of seed, put wheat seed in water and agitate vigorously for few minutes. Ear
cockle galls will float to the surface. These may be skimmed off with an ordinary sieve and brunt.
Molya (Heterodera avenae): Plants become stunted with yellowing of leaves, reduced tillering and
absence of ears on some tillers or small ears with poorly filled grains. The root system of infected plants
gets reduced in size and becomes bunchy with profuse development of thin rootlets. Cysts (shining white
bodies of female nematodes) are seen attached to the roots at the later stage of the crop. For control:
Expose the soil to the hot sun by summer cultivation. follow rotation with non- cereals in badly infested
soils. Use resistant variety Raj M R- 1. Apply Temik 10G @ 10 kg or Furadan 3G @ 32 Kg/ha at sowing
time.

Insect management
Termites (Microtermos obesus): Termites damage the crop soon after sowing and near maturity. The
damaged plants dry up completely and are easily pooled out. The plants damaged at later stages give rise
to white ears. The damage is generally more in low irrigated light soils areas. For control : Treat the 100
kg seed with 150 ml Chlorpyriphos 20 EC or 250 ml Formothion 25 EC or 500 ml Ethion 50 EC, make
the total solution of 5 litre by adding water and then after spreading the seed on polythine sheet or floor
mix solution with seed. To control termite in standing field condition mix the 5 litre of Chlorpyriphos 20
EC in 5 litre of water and 5 kg sand or ash, then spread in field evenly followed by a light irrigation.
Aphid (Lipophis erysimi) and Jassid (Amrasca biguttula): These pests damage the crop in the month of
Feb - March in our conditions by sucking the cell sap from leaves, earhead and flag leaf. For cntrol: If
you find 10 pests in one group on flag leaves of crop then go for spray of 625 ml Fanitrothion 50 EC or
1000 ml Malathion 50 EC mix with 625 litre of water per hectare area.
Harvesting and threshing :
Wheat crop is usually harvested when the grains become hard and the leaves become dry and
brittle. The maturity period depends upon whether crop is grown under rainfed or irrigated conditions.
The maturity period of crop may also vary from zone to zone and also with the variety used.
The most suitable stage for harvesting wheat is when plants are completely dry and the grains
become hard and contain 20-25% moisture. When combine harvester is used, the grain should not contain
>20% moisture. Combine can do harvesting, threshing and winnowing of crop in single operation.
After harvesting the crop by hand, it is dried for 3-4 days on the threshing floor and then threshed
by bullocks or olpad thresher attached to bullocks. Now-a-days power driven stationary threshers are
becoming more popular because these are easy in operation and lesser time consuming.
Yield
By adopting improved technology, the crop may yield 5-6 t grain and 7-8 t straw/ha from dwarf
wheat varieties under irrigated conditions. Under rainfed conditions 2-2.5 t grain and 3-3.5 t straw/ha may
be obtained. Deshi tall wheat varieties usually give 2-3 t grain and 6-7 t straw/ha may be obtained.