Field Preparations For Wheat Crop

Wheat is cultivated majorly in the Northern parts of India such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat. In the year 2021 – 22 alone there was 7,239,366.80 MT of wheat exported out of the country amounting to 15,840.31 crores INR. Wheat is a rabi crop that is grown mainly in the clay loamy soil. Wheat is a dry crop, therefore good aeration is necessary. 

Difficulty Level: Hard

Seed Selection and Seed Treatment for Wheat

There are a lot of different varieties of wheat to choose from. There are local varieties, hybrid, and imported varieties. Popular varieties include DBW 222, DBW 252, DDW47, DBW 187, DBW 173, HD 2851, HD 2932, PBW 1 Zn, Unnat PBW 343, PDW 233, WHD 943, TL 2908. The DBW 222 is ideal for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Parts of Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand and HP. The DBW 222 is also resistant to rust. The DBW 252 is ideal for UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam and the plains of North Eastern States. 

Pre-soaking of seeds: (Time taken)  

Wheat seeds don’t need much soaking. A sufficient amount of soaking would be 8 – 12 hours. Soaking for an extended amount of time will cause fungal growth making the seeds to rot and unsuitable to cultivate. 

Seed Treatment: Wheat

There are various types of wheat seed treatment that are utilized depending on location, climatic situation, soil condition etc. Some of the common seed treatments are treated with fungicides and insecticides. For places with wetter conditions, various diseases like smut, rot, and blight could affect the seed. The seed treatment for wheat loose smut and flag smut is to use Tebuconazole 1g/kg seed or Bavistin  2.5 g/kg.Seed Treatment procedure will be carried out with the use of a drum. The seed treatment for wheat could also be with Trichoderma  viride 4 g / Kg seeds is also helpful, as it reduces the rust severity. 

Nursery Bed Preparation for Wheat

Wheat doesn’t necessarily require a nursery like rice. Direct sowing is often practised. The field is prepared for wheat and the seeds are usually broadcasted. However, in recent times there has been an unconventional practice of line sowing as well. 

Land Preparations for wheat

Plough the land twice with an iron plough and three times with cultivator and prepare the land to a fine tilth.At last ploughing  add 12 tons of Farm yard manure with 5 kg of biofertilizer, 5 kg of Trichoderma and 5 kg of Pseudomonas per hectare. 

Soil Type Requirements for wheat

Wheat requires clay loam or loam with good texture,structure and moderate water holding capacity.Its better to avoid very porous and excessively drained soils. 

Soil pH

Wheat requires a neutral pH 6.0 – 7.0, whereas soil with both high and a low pH can affect the growth and the yield of the crop. 

Conclusion

Wheat is a hardy crop that is grown across the country.Wheat is a major staple crop, giving  a high return to farmers.

FAQs

1. Suggest some popular varieties of wheat?

2. How long should pre-soaking be done for wheat seeds?

It could be soaked for 8 – 12 hours.

3. How to do seed treatment for wheat to prevent smut?

Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram at 2g/kg of seeds 24 hours before sowing. 

4. What is the general dose of fertilizer recommendation for wheat?

The fertilizer recommendation dose for wheat is 32:16:16 kg/acre. The commercial quantity for field application is listed in the table below, 

5. What is the pre-emergence herbicide used to control weeds in wheat field?

Spray BACF PLOD HERBICIDE (Pendimethalin 30% EC) – 1000 ml/acre as a pre-emergence herbicide for one acre of wheat crop at 0-3 days after sowing. 

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.