The document provides comprehensive guidance on the cultivation of wheat (Triticum aestivum), highlighting its importance as a staple food and detailing optimal conditions for growth, including soil types, climatic requirements, and management practices. It outlines seed selection, sowing methods, nutrient and water management, plant protection measures, and harvesting procedures, along with average yield estimates for different cultivation methods. Additionally, it emphasizes post-harvest storage and pest management to ensure quality preservation of the harvested grain.

1. Welcome
Abhang A. S
Tal- Sangamner, Dist-Ahmednagar

2. Wheat
Botanical Name: Triticum aestivum
Family: Poaceae
Chromosome no: 2n=42
Origin: South West Asia, Turkey
-Wheat is king of cereals.
-It is Most important human food Grain and staple food.

3. Improved/hybrid varieties of wheat Developed by MPKV,
1.Phule samadhan [NIAW-1994] (2014)
2.Netravati [NIAW-1415] (2010)
3.Tapovan [NIAW-917] (2005)
4.Godavari [NIDW-295] (2005)
5.Panchavati [NIDW-15] (2002)
6.Trambak [NIAW-301] (2001)

4. Soil
-Wheat is grown in wide range of soils in India.
-Well drained , fertile clay loam soil having moderate water holding capacity are ideal
for irrigated wheat.
-Wheat can also be successfully cultivated on lighter soils by providing proper
irrigation and required nutrients.
Climate
-wheat needs cool, dry and clear climate for better growth and yield.
-In early growth stage ,it requires cool temperature and dew formation which increases
tillering.
-Optimum temperature range for ideal germination of seed is 20-25°C.

5. Field preparation
-Wheat crop requires well pulverized but compact seedbed for good and
uniform germination.
-The seed bed should not be dusty.
-Preparatory tillage operations varies with type of cultivation
i.e whether grown as Rained or irrigated crop.

6. Seed
-Well developed, bold seed should be collected from fully dried crop and stored
separately.
-The seed should be helthy and free from seed borne diseases.
-Purchase seeds from an authorized seed providing agency with better germination
rate.
Seed treatment
-Use of fungicide Carbedazim,Mencozeb,Metalxyl@2g/kg seeds.
-use of culture rhizobium,azatobacter, phosphorus solubilising bacteria @10gm/kg(in
the form of powder),Or use 5gm/kg (in the form of liquid).

7. Sowing
Methods of sowing
1.Broadcasting
2.Behind local plough
3.Drilling
4.Dibbling

8. Sowing time
In Maharashtra optimum sowing time is late October to early November.
Rainfed crop-15th to 30th October
Irrigated crop-1st to 15th November
Seed rate
Seed rate for medium sized grain varieties -100 kg/ha,
Seed rate for bold seeded varieties -125kg/ha and
Seed rate for late sown varieties - 125-150 kg/ha is recommended.

9. Intercultural operations
1. Usually no intercultural is given to the rainfed wheat crop.
2. But in case of irrigated crop one hoeing is done when the crop is about 15
to 18 days old to remove the weeds and prolongs the first irrigation.
3. In addition to this one to two hand weedings are also given for aerating
the soil and light earthing up.

10. Nutrient management
10 tons of well decomposed manure or compost applied per ha for wheat crop.
-For timely sowing apply 120kg N, 60kg P and 40kg K per ha.
-For late sowing apply 80kg N, 40kg P and 40kg K per ha
If there is a deficiency of sulphur in the field, sulphur containing fertilizer such as ammonium
sulphate or single super sulphate should be used.
If green manure of Dhaincha is used before the wheat crop, about 50-60 kg per hectare of nitrogen is
saved.
Thus by managing fertilizer and manure, provide necessary nutrients for the growth of crops. Due to
which crop yield also increases and soil fertility also improves.

11. Water management
The crop requires 4 – 6 irrigations depending on the soil type and rainfall.
Wheat crop requires minimum of 5 irrigations at the following critical stages.
I – Immediately after sowing
II – Crown root intiation : 15-20 DAS
III- Active tillering stage : 35-40 DAS
IV- Flowering stage : 50-55 DAS
V- Grain filling stage : 70-75 DAS
Crown root initiation and flowering are the most critical stages. Water stagnation should
be avoided at the time of germination.

12. Plant protection
Chemical control
Pre emergence application
It applied after sowing but before emergence of seedlings.
Atrazine(0.5-1.0 kg /ha)
Pendimethalin(1.0-1.5 kg/ha)
Tebutryn(1.0-2.0 kg/ha) for heavy soil.
Norea(1.0-2.0 kg/ha) for heavy soil.
Post emergence application
In case of severe infestation.
Low rates of 2,4-D (0.5-1.0 kg/ha) may be applied when the plant 25 to 30 cm tall.

13. Harvesting
Harvesting stage comes when normally the plant turns golden yellow and becomes brittle.
The grains become hard and the straw turns dry.
In case of delay in harvesting wheat seeds of Trambak [NIAW 301] Can be spread in the
field.
Seed moisture content should be 15 % at the time of Harvesting.
Harvesting Is mostly done by sickle.

14. Threshing
The crop is threshed by treading with cattle on the threshing floor or by a
power driven thresher.
By using a combine harvester , the harvesting and threshing Operations can
be carried out simultaneously.

15. Yield
Average yield of wheat
A)For local varieties
1.Rainfed crop – 4 to 6 quintal/ha
2.Irrigated crop- 10 to 12 quintal/ha
B)For Mexican varieties
1.Rainfed crop- 15 to 20 quintal/ha
2.Irrigated crop- 30 to 35 quintal/ha

16. Post harvest
Storage
Store your harvest in a place that meets the following criteria.
1. Protection from insects,rodents and birds.
2. Good hygienic conditions.
3. Easy loading and uploading.
4. Efficient use of space .
5. Easy maintenance and management.
6. Prevention of moisture re-entering the grain after drying.

17. Pest management during storage
1. Clean the storage area Well before storing grain.
2. Follow customary pest control techniques.
3. Controlled climate , including cooling and aeration to reduce the Insect reproductive rate
and humidity.
4. Drying grain in summer in sunlight to reduce the moisture content.
5. Heat treatment (more than 60°C)to disinfect grains.
6. Fumigation with penetrating gas.
7. Adding an insecticide or grain protectant.

18. Thank you