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INTRODUCTION
MEASURESTOACHIEVETHETARGETEDPRODUCTIONOFWHEAT

Asdiscussedearlier,thereishardlyanyscopeforexpansionofareaunderWheat.The
main emphasis would be on increasing the productivity of Wheat by adopting the improved
cultivationpracticesasdiscussedhereunder.
WheatProductionTechnology
Climaticrequirement
Wheat is grown in all types of climatic conditions i.e. tropical, subtropical and temperate. In
India, major Wheat area is under subtropical region. The cool and sunny winters are very
conducive for growth of Wheat crop. The following temperature is required for optimum growth
anddevelopment:
Growthstages

Temperaturerequirements

Germination

20to25Cmeandaily

Acceleratedgrowth

20to23Cmeandaily

Acceleratedgrowth

20to23Cmeandaily

Propergrainfilling

23to25Cmeandaily

Soilrequirement
Wheatcanbegrownonallkindsofsoils,exceptthehighlydeterioratedalkalineandwaterlogged
soils. Soils with clay loam or loam texture, good structure and moderate water holding capacity
are ideal for Wheat cultivation. Durum Wheat should preferably be sown on medium to fine
texturedsoils.
CultivationPractices
LandPreparation
The Wheat crop requires a well pulverized but compact seed bed for good uniform
germination. One deep ploughing with soil turning plough followed by two harrowings and
planking is desirable . To protect the crop from Termites and White Ants particularly in
rainfed area, treatment is suggested with Endosulphan 35EC or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @
700 ml per 100 kg of seed by mixing in 5 litres of water and spraying over the seed
followedbyseeddryingovernightbeforesowing.
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SeedandSowing
TimeofSowing,Spacing&SeedRate

Seedrate
(kg/ha)

Timeofsowing

Spacing
(cm)

IrrigatedTimelysown

100

1025November

2022.5

IrrigatedLatesown

125

25Nov.25Dec.

1518

Rainfedtimelysown

100

25Oct.10Nov.

2025

Depthofsowing
Seed should be placed 56 cm deep below the soil where sufficient soil moisture is
availabletoenablegermination.
MethodofSowing
ThebestmethodofsowingiswithaseeddrillordroppingseedwithaChongaattachedto
a deshi plough. Dropping seeds in open furrows behind a deshi plough and broadcasting
arefoundtobeinferiortolinesowingwithseeddrill.
Seedtreatment
For the control of diseases like Bunts and Smuts, seed treatment is suggested with
Vitavex,Bavistin,ThiramorAgrosanGN@2.5gmperkgofseed.
WheatVarieties
The ICAR and State Agriculture Universities has developed many varieties of Wheat
suitablefordifferentzones,regions,statesandsowingconditions.Thedetailedinformation
ofthenewimprovedvarietiesaregivenintheAnnexureIX.
ThepresentSeedReplacementRatio(SRR)isabout10%,whichisproposedtoincreaseupto
20% by the end of X Plan. Accordingly, yearwise requirement of Breeder, Foundation and
CertifiedseedshavebeenworkedoutandgiveninAnnexureX.
WheatBasedCroppingSystem
Wheat is grown mainly in cropping sequences like RiceWheat, JowarWheat, BajraWheat,
MaizeWheat, PulseWheat, CottonWheat, SoybeanWheat etc. in different parts of the country
underirrigatedcondition.Underrainfedcondition,fallowWheatismostcommon,butsometimes
shortdurationpulsecropsmayproceedWheatinassuredrainfallareas.
TheStatewiseWheatbasedcroppingsystemareasfollows:
State

CroppingSystem

1. Assam

MaizeWheat,SugarcaneWheat,PigeonPeaWheat

2. Bihar

RiceWheat,MaizeWheat,SesameWheat

3. Jharkhand

RiceWheat

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4. Gujarat

GroundnutWheat,MaizeWheat,RiceWheat,
CottonWheat,PigeonPeaWheat

5. Haryana

RiceWheat,SorghumWheat,CottonWheat,Bajra
Wheat,MaizeWheat

6. HimachalPradesh

MaizeWheat

7. Jammu&Kashmir

RiceWheat,MaizeWheat

8. Karnataka

GroundnutWheat

9. MadhyaPradesh

RiceWheat,SorghumWheat,SoybeanWheat,
CottonWheat,

10. Chattishgarh

SoybeanWheat,RiceWheat,SorghumWheat,
CottonWheat

11. Maharashtra

SoybeanWheat,BajraWheat,RiceWheat,Cotton
Wheat

12. Orissa

SesameWheat,

13. Punjab

RiceWheat,CottonWheat,MaizeWheat,

14. Rajasthan

SorghumWheat,MaizeWheat,BajraWheat

15. UttarPradesh

RiceWheat,BajraWheat,SorghumWheat,
SugarcaneWheat

16. WestBengal

RiceWheat

FertilizerApplication
The fertilizer application should normally be on the basis of soil test. In case the facility for soil
testingisnotavailable,fertilizermaybeappliedatthefollowingrates:
(i)N:P:K:
ProductionCondition

FertilserRequirement(kg./Ha.)
Nitrogen(N)

Phosphorous(P)

Potash(K)

IrrigatedTimelysown

120150

4060

Basedonsoiltest

IrrigatedLatesown

80100

4060

Basedonsoiltest

60

20

Nil

RainfedTimelysown
Methodandtimeofapplication

Thetimeoffertilizerapplicationdependsuponnatureoffertilizerandtypeofsoil.ThePhosphatic
andPotassicfertilizersshouldbeappliedasbasalwhileNitrogenousfertilizersshouldbeapplied
asbasalandtopdressinginsplitdoses.Inmediumtoheavysoilsapplicationofnitrogenintwo
splits i.e. half at the time of sowing and half after first irrigation. In case of light soils, nitrogen
applied into three splits i.e. onethird at sowing time, onethird after first irrigation and remaining
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onethirdaftersecondirrigation.
(ii)Secondary&Micronutrients
Sulphur
In some Wheat growing areas, particularly where Rice Wheat crop rotation is
continuously taken, the deficiency of Sulphur is being visualised. Recent studies at
PDCSR, Modipuram indicated wide spread deficiency of Sulphur in the soils of Rice
WheatgrowingareasofwesternUttarPraesh.TheSulphurdeficiencycanbemanagedby
applicationofferiliserslikeSuperPhosphateorAmmoniumSulphate.
Zink
Among micronutrients, Zink (Zn) is the most common disorder of Indian soils, particularly
those managed under RiceWheat cropping system. In the most cases, application of 25
Kg Zink Sulphate per ha. is sufficient to meet the Zn demands of Rice as well as
subsequent Wheat, except in saltaffected soils, which need 10 Kg Zn/ha. in Rice crop.
Results of research studies reveal that in RiceWheat system, contribution of Zn to grain
yieldincreasedmarkedlywithcontinuouscropping.
Irrigation
Underlimitedwateravailability
Oneirrigation

InbetweenCRIandtiller

Twoirrigation

AtCRI*andbootstages

Threeirrigation

AtCRI*,bootandmilkstagescompletionstages

Underoptimumwateravailability
Fourirrigation

AtCRI*,tillercompletion,bootandmilkStages

Fiveirrigation

AtCRI*,tillercompletion,latejointfloweringandmilkstages

Sixirrigation

At CRI*, tiller completion, late jointing, flowering, milk and dough

stages

*CRI=crownrootinitiation
PlantProtectionMeasures
Weedcontrol
For an effective control of weeds following chemicals should be sprayed by making a
solutionin400to600litresofwater/ha.
Fornarrowleavedweeds
Pendimethalin(Stomp)@1.0kga.i./ha,23daysaftersowing(preemergence),followed
by Isoproturon (Tolkan/ Graminon/Arelon) @ 0.75 kg a.i./ ha, 3035 days after sowing or
Metaxuron (Dosanex/ Hexamar/ Hilnex) @ 1.5 kg a.i./ha 3035 days after sowing or
Leader@33gat35daysaftersowingorTopic@400g/haat35daysaftersowing
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Forbroadleavedweeds
2,4D@0.4kga.i./haat3035daysaftersowing
Formixedpopulationofnarrowandbroadleavedweeds
Mixture of Isoproturon and 2,4D at the recommended doses of each or Isoguardplus
@1.2kga.i./ha3035daysaftersowing.
Diseasecontrol.
Mostofthevarietiesreleasedtodayareresistanttonearlyallthediseasesbutevenafter
electingsuchvarietiesifthediseasesarenoticed,weshouldapplythefollowingchemicals
fortheircontrol.
DiseasesofWheat(Triticumaestivum)

DiseaseName
Glumeblotch

Causalorganism
Septorianodorum

Loafblotch

Septoriatritici

Symptoms
Small, linear or oblong, to
darkbrown
blotches,
studded with minute black
dots, appear on floral
bracts and nodal tissues
ofthecalms

Controlmeasures
Treat seed with
Ceresan or Agrosan
GNbeforesowing@
2g/kgpractisecrop
rotation and field
sanitation spray the
crop with 4:4:50
Bordeaux mixture or
any other copper
fungicide

Lightgreen to yellow
blotches on leaves, later
turning light brown, and
studdedwithblackdots

Grow
varieties

resistant

Pythiumroot
rot

Pythium
graminicolum

Roots stunted and rotted

leaves pale green or
brown

Seed treatment with

Thiram (0.25%)
soil treatment with
Thiram @ 25 kg/ha
by applying the
fungicideinfurrows

Sclerotial
disease

Pelliculariarolfsii

Practice
crop
rotation and sterilize
thesoil

Dilophospors
Leafspot

Dilophosporarolfsii

A white weft of mycelium

isformednearthebaseof
theplantonwhichwhiteto
reddishtan
spherical
sclerotiaappear
Yellow,elliptictoelongate,
sometimes
spindle
shaped flecks are formed
in the leaves later
develop black crust in the
centre

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Cut tops and burn

stubble of affected
plants treat seed
withfungicides

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Leafblight

Footrot

Hillbunt

Alternariatriticina

Karnalbunt

Grow
resistant
varieties like Dewa
(K9107),
Ganga
(HD2643), Narendra
Wheat (NW1012),
Narendra
Wheat
(NW1014), Gometic
(K9465), Malviya
468, Atal (K9644),
HP 2733, Prasad
(K8434), Halna (K
7903).Seed soaking
in hotwaters (at
520C)
for
10
minutes spray of
Ziram, Dithane M
45 or Dithane Z78
(0.25%)

Helminthosporium
sativumand
Fusariumspp.

Darkbrown
patches
appear on collar plant
turnsyellowanddriesup

Seeddressing with
Agrosan GN or
Ceresan @ 2 g/kg
delay sowing till the
3rd week of October
apply heavy rauni
(irrigation)toprepare
theseedbed

Tilletiafoetidaand
Tilletiacaries

Affected plants ripen

earlier ears become dark
green
grains
are
transformed into a black
sooty mass covered by a
membraneandsmellingof
rottenfish

Treat seed with

Ceresan or Agrosan
GN @ 2.5 g/kg,
grow
resistant
varieties,
e.g.
Kalyan
Sona
Panjamo 62 and
PV 18 rogue out
diseasedplants

Neovossiaindica

Diseased grains partly

convertedintoblacksooty
powder which smells like
rottenfishonlyafewears
and a few grains in each
earaffected

Grow
resistant
varieties
like
Malavshree
(HI
8381),
Raj3765,
PBW343, Ganga
(HD2643), Narendra
Wheat (NW1012),
Narendra
Wheat

Leaves show reddish

brown spots with yellow
marginal zone around the
spots later, the spots
coalesce,givingtheleafa
blightedappearance

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(NW 1014), Gometi

(K9465), Malviya
468, Atal (K9644),
Uijjar
(K9006),
Prasad (K
8434), Halna (K
7903), Naina (K
9533)
10

Flagsmut

Urocystistritici

Grey or greyishblaok,
long Seed streaks on
leaves, leaf sheaths and
sometimes on stalk and
grow glumes stripes
eventually rupture and
expose a black sooty
mass
of
spore
powder affected plants
stunted, with leaves
twisted
no
ear
formation

Seeddressing with
Ceresan or Agrosan
GN @ 1:500 grow
resistant varieties
practise
crop
rotation, rogue out
diseased plants and
destroy them by
burning avoid late
sowing do not sow
deepapplyirrigation
immediately
after
sowing

Ustitago
tritici

Smutted heads grains

replaced by a black
powdery mass of spores
finally only the naked
rachisremainingbehind

Solarheat or hot
water treatment of
seed grow resistant
varieties
e.g.
Narendra
Wheat
(NW1012),
Narendra
Wheat
(NW1014), Gomti
(K9465), Malviya
468,Naina(K9533)
rogue
out
the
smutted plants dry
seed treatment with
Carboxin(0.25)%
Seed treatment with
Oxycarboxin grow
resistant varieties,
e.g. Malvshree (HI
8381), Vidisha (DL
8033), Vidisha (DL
7882),
GW273,
Atal
(K9644),
Malvratna
(HD

11

Loosesmut

12

Stemrust

Pucciniagraminis

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Reddishbrown to dark
brown, oblong, pustules
on culms and leaf
sheaths
later,
the
pustules turn black grains
becomeshrivelled

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4672),etc
13

Striperust
(yellowrust)

Pucciniaglumarum
(P.striiformis)

Mosaic mottling of leaves

sometimes
associated
with flecking also infects
oatsandwheat

Tolerant
varieties
Raj3765,
PBW_343, Ganga
(HD2643),
Rajeshwari
(HP
1744), Shresth (HD
2687),
VL804,
Gangotri (K9162),
etc. Seed treatment
(2.6 g/kg) and spray
(3.2 kg/ha) with
Oxycarboxin

14

15

Leafrust
(brownrust)

Pucciniarecondite

Round or oblong, orange,

scattered pustules on
loaves and sometimes on
leaf
sheaths
later,
pustules turn black and
remaincoveredwithathin
membrane

Grow
resistant
varieties
like
Malvshree
(HI
8381), vidisha (DL
8033), Raj 3765),
PBW343, Ganga
(HD2643),
Rajeswari
(HP
1744), Vidisha (DL
7882),
GW273,
Narendra
Wheat
(NW1012),
Narendra
Wheat (NW1014),
Shresth (HD2687),
Malavshakti
(HI
8498), Malavratna
(HD4672),HD2733,
VL804,Gangotri(K
9162),
etc.
compound RH124
is specific for this
disease Zineb and
Dithane M45 spray
(3kg/ha)

Powdery
mildew

Erysiphegraminis

White to dark powdery

masses appear on all
aerialpartsoftheplant

Dust with finely

powdered sulphur @
1520kgperhectare
grow resistant
varieties
soil
treatment
with

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16

Mosaicstreak

Virus

Chlorotic
leaves

streaks

on

17

Yellowdwarf

Virus

18

Earcockle

Anguinatritici

19

Tandu(Yellow
earrot)

Corynebacterium
tritici
andnematodes

Anguina
triticicomplex

20

Molyaor
cerealroot
eelworm

Heteroderaavenue

Benomyl
(600
1000g/100kg)
Sow
resistant
varieties,
e.g.
Ridley, N.P803,
N. P. 809, E
4647,
E0003E6831

General yellowing and

dwarfingalsoinfectsoats
andwheat
Leaf blades generally
twisted infected ears are
shorter and remain green
longer awns are more
spreading affected grains
transformed into one or
moresmallgalls

Resistant varieties
Sun,RedRussian

Leaves of affected plants

curla bright yellow slimy
ooze appears on leaves
and
inflorescence
inflorescenceagglutinized,
and no seeds formed
grains transformed into
smallhardgalls.

Usecleanseed,free
from
galls
for
sewing
remove
galls by sieving or
by floatation in 20%
salt solution rogue
outdiseasedplants

Stunting,
paleyellow
sparsely
growing
seedlings roots showing
knots
containing
nematodecysts

Practise a two year

rotation.

Usecleanseed,free
from
galls
for
sewing
remove
galls by sieving or
by floatation in 20%
salt solution rogue
outdiseasedplants

PestsofWheat(TriticumaestivumLinnaeus)

NameofthePest
Termites:
Odontotermee
Rambur
Microtermes
Holmgren

Stemborer,

obesus
obesi

Descriptionanddamage

Controlmeasures

Social
insects
that
live
underground in colonies attack
youngseedlingsaswellasgrown
up plants the attacked plants
witherandultimatelydie

Mix thoroughly 5% Aldrin

or Chlordane dust with the
soil just at the time of
sowing
or
during
preparation of the land for
Bowing

Moths are strawcoloured, lay

In the initial stage, pull out

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inference

eggs in clusters inside the leaf

sheaths
pinkishbrown
caterpillars bore into stems and
kill central shoots causing dead
hearts

and destroy deadhearts

dust 5% BHC or spray
0.05%Endosulfan

Gujhia weevil,
Tanymecus
indious
Faust

Adults are eartherngrey weevils

grubs feed on roots, whereas the
adults out growing points or
nibble at margins of loaves
severerattheseedlingstage

Plough the fields in

summer to expose and kill
the pupae mix thoroughly
Aldrin or Heptachlor with
the 12 deep layer of soil
foradults,dust5%BHC

Cutworms
AgrotisipsilonHufner
A. flammatra Schiffer
Mueller

Caterpillars are general feeders

out seedlings at the soil level
resowing may be necessary,
whentheattackissevere

Dust 10% BHC on the soil

aroundtheplants

Armyworm
Mythimna
unipuncta
Haworth

Caterpillars march from field to

dield and voraciously feed on
foliage appear after heavy rains
orearlyfloods

Trap caterpillars in grass

heaps or plough up
infested fields dust 10%
BHC or spray 0.05%
Endosulfan early stage
caterpillars are easy to
control

Thrip,
Anaphothrips flavicinctus
Karny

Nymphs and adults

tender
leaves,
characteristic whitish
temperature favourable
multiplication

lacerate
causing
streaks
to rapid

Dust 5% BHC or spray

0.02% low Phosphamidon
or 0.03% Dimethoate or
Diazinon

Wheat aphids:
Schizaphie (Taxoptera)
graminum
Rondani
Rhopalosiphum maidis
Fitch
Sitobion
avenace
Fabricius

Nymphs and adults suck sap

from leaves, tender shoots and
immature rain extremely fast,
forminglargecolonies

Dust 5% BHC or spray

0.02% low Phosphamidon
or 0.03% Dimethoate or
Diazinon

Surface
grasshopper,
Chrotogonus
trachypterusBlanchard

Adults stout, mudlike in colour

polyphagous, feeding on foliage
andtendershoots

Dust510%BHC

Shootfly,

The fly has assumed the status

of a pest recently maggots

Apply Phorate (10%) or

Disulfoton (5%) to the soil

Sesamia
Walker

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Atherigona
Steyskal

naqvii

attack seedlings and kill the

central shoots, causing dead
hearts

at the time of sowing

spray
seedlings
with
0.03%
Dimethoate,
Phosphamidon or Methyl
demeton

Harvesting&Threshing
The crop is harvested when the grains become hard and the straw becomes yellow, dry and
brittle. Most of the harvesting in India is done with sickle. However, in recent years in some
states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh etc. harvesting & threshing is done by combine
harvesteratalargescale.Thematuritytimeofthecropdiffersfromzonetozoneandsoisthe
harvesting.Thetimeofharvestingfordifferentzonesisindicatedasunder:
Wheatgrowingzones

Timeofharvestingthecrop

N.E.P.Zone

ItstartsfromlatterpartofMarchandcontinuesuntilmidApril.

N.W.P.Zone

SecondfortnightofApril

CentralZone

EndofFebruarytoMarch

PeninsularZone

SecondfortnightofFebruarytobeginningofMarch

Hillyzone

MayJune

Threshingisgenerallydonebyvarioustypesofthresherswhicharecommonindifferentpartsof
thecountry.
Storage
The grain should be thoroughly dried before storage. Grains with less than 10% moisture
store well. The storage pits, bins or godowns should be moisture proof and should be
fumigatedtokeepdowntheattackofstoredgrainpests.

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