- Wheat is an important food crop worldwide and in India. The document discusses the botanical description, varieties, uses, production, and cultivation practices of wheat. It provides details on the climatic requirements, soil requirements, cropping systems, seed and sowing methods, fertilizer use, irrigation, weed control, and a new system of intensified wheat cultivation. The key aspects covered include wheat being a staple food crop, grown widely in northern India, and requiring specific temperature and moisture conditions at different growth stages.

1. Course- Introduction to
major field crops
HPA-101
Topic-”Wheat”
Submitted to:-Dr. Gargi Goswami
Dr. Deepa Joshi
Submitted By:- Mansi Bisht
16021

2. Botanical description:
Common name : Wheat
Hindi name : Gehun
Botanical name : Triticum aestivum L.
Family : Gramineae
Chromosome no :42( hexaploid species)
Origin : North East

3. Five wheat species in India are:
1. Triticum aestivum (common bread wheat)
2. Triticum spherococcum (Indian dwarf wheat)
3. Triticum vulgare (Common bread wheat)
4. Triticum durum (Macaroni wheat)
5. Triticum dicoccum (Emmer wheat)

4. USES:-
 FOOD PRODUCTS-Wheat is world’s most cultivated food crop.
 In India it is the second important staple food crop after rice.
 Chapattis, bread ,biscuit, pasta products, noodles, cookies, Dalia
etc.
 INDUSTRIAL USES-Wheat provide a proteinaceous substance
gluten is very essential for bakers as it provide framework to
spongy cellular texture of bread.
 Starch is used in cosmetic ,paper and pharmaceutical industry.

5.  OTHER USES:
Many other forms such as straw and bran are used as cattle feed all
over the country.
 FOOD VALUE:
Wheat has relatively high content of niacin and thiamine.
Carbohydrate 70%, Protein 12%, Fat 1.7%, Minerals 2.7%, fibre
2% and moisture 12%.

7. AREA AND DISTRIBUTION:
Wheat is world's leading cereal crop, cultivated over an area about 215
million hectares with a production of 584 million tones of grain.
 Maximum area under wheat is in China followed by India, while
the production China stand first and India ranks second.
 As regard the average yield per hectare, UK ranks first followed by
France.
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana,
Maharashtra and Gujarat are major wheat growing state in the country.
Maximum production of wheat is in Uttar Pradesh but Punjab give the
highest average yield per hectare.
India accounts about 12 per cent of the total wheat production of the
world.

8. Varieties:
North western plains zone: PBW 550, DBW 17, PBW 502, PBW
343, WH 542, UP 2338, HD 2687, PDW 215(d), PDW 233 (d), WH
896 (d), Raj 3077
North eastern plains zone:K 307, HD 2824, PBW 343, PBW 443,
HD 2733, HP 1731, HP 1761, NW 1012, HUW 468, K 9107
Northern hill zone( Uttarakhand hills):VL-738,UP 1109 , HS 240,
HS 207
Central zone: HD 2932, MP 4010, DL 788-2, GW 173,HI 1531, HI
1500, HI 8627 (d), HW 2004, C 306, Sujata, HD 4672

9. CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT:
 Wheat crop has wider adaptability. It can be grown in tropical, sub-tropical as
well as temperate zone.
 The best wheat are produced in areas favoured with cool, moist weather
during the major portion of growing period followed by warm dry weather.
 It can be cultivated from sea level to as high as 3300m .
 The optimum temperature range for ideal germination of wheat seed is 20-
25⁰C.
 Wheat plant require 14-15⁰C optimum average temperature at time of
ripening.

10. Temperature above 25⁰C during this period tend to depress grain
weight.
Wheat is generally grown as a Rabi (winter)season crop.
Areas with warm and damp climate are not suitable for wheat
growing.
Rains just after sowing hamper germination of seeds.

11. SOIL REQUIREMENT:
Wheat is grown in a wide range of soil.
Soil with clay loam and loam texture with good water holding
capacity is ideal for cultivation.
Soil should be neutral in reaction.
Heavy soil with good drainage are suitable for wheat cultivation
under dry condition.

12. CROPPING SYSTEM
In India many rotations of crops involving wheat are feasible.
Some of the most cropping system in wheat are as follows:
ROTATION DURATION
 Rice-wheat 1 year
 Maize-wheat 1 year
Pigeon pea-wheat 1 year
Rice-wheat-sorghum-chickpea 2 years
Maize-wheat-sugarcane- ratoon 3 years

13. FIELD PREPARATION:
 As a general rule wheat crop requires a well-pulverized but compact seed bed
for good and uniform germination.
 After the harvest of previous season crop the field should be ploughed
properly.
 Followed by 2-3 harrowing and then planking the land properly to prepare the
bed.
 Avoid powdery seed bed.
 One pre sowing irrigation 7-10 days before seeding ensures proper
germination.
 To protect young seedlings from white ant and gujhia weevil Aldrin 5% dust in
soil at 25kg/ha at time of last ploughing.

14. Field preparation using tractors for wheat
cultivation

15. SEED AND SOWING:
Only healthy seeds of right variety suitable for a particular locality
should be selected for sowing.
Always use a certified seed treated with Vitavex , Thiram or
Agrosan @2.5g per kg seed.
TIME OF SOWING:
The optimum time of wheat sowing varies widely depending on
following factors- type of variety, weather conditions, soil
temperature irrigation facility, land preparation and availability of
inputs.

16. In general, the maximum productivity potential of promising wheat
varieties under irrigated conditions is attained by sowing them
between 10th to 15th November in all the zones other then
peninsular zone.
Sowing dates should be managed such that the mean daily
temperature drops down to 20-22⁰C.
Rain fed wheat is generally sown during the period from second
fortnight of October to early November.

17. SEED RATE:
For medium sized grain variety a seed rate of 100kg/ha is
recommended.
For bold seeded variety a seed rate of 125kg/ha is recommended.
For late sown variety 125-150kg/ha seed rate is recommended.
Under rainfed conditions a reduced seed rate of 75-80kg/ha is
recommended.
When wheat is to be sown by dibbler, a seed rate of 25-30kg/ha is
sufficient

18. SPACING AND DEPTH OF SOWING:
For a normal sown crop a spacing of 20-22.5cm between the rows
is recommended.
When sowing is delayed a closure spacing of 15-18cm should be
adopted.
Depth of sowing should be according to the coleoptiles length that
is usually 5cm in high yielding Mexican varieties.
Seeds of semi dwarf varieties can be sown at a depth of 5-6cm.
In late sown crop the sowing depth should be shallow up to 4cm,
deep sowing delays the emergence.

19. Sowing
methods
Dibbling
Drilling
Zero
tillage
technique
Broadcastin
g method

20. Broadcasting method: In this method the seeds are broadcast
and then worked in by harrowing in order to cover them. The seeds
are not uniformly spread in the field. This method is not
encouraged method.
Drilling: In this method seed is sown by seed drill or ferti -seed
drill. With this method seed drop at uniform depth and result in
uniform germination and regular stand.
Dibbling: This method is used where supply of seed is limited.
Sowing is done with help of small implement known as dibbler. It is
not common as it is time consuming.

21. Zero tillage technique:
This new method is used where sowing of wheat is delayed beyond 25
November.
A-zero-till-ferti-seed-drill machine is developed at G.B Pant
University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar by which direct
of wheat is done in rice field. This helps advancing the sowing of wheat
as the time required for field preparation is saved.
The zero-till- ferti-seed-drill has knife type tines in place of shovel type
suitable for zero tillage sowing.
At the time of sowing the seed drill should be lifted up and down to avoid
chocking of furrow opener by soil for easy drill of seed and fertilizer.
Seed rate should be 140-150kg/ha.

22. Sowing of wheat manually

23. MANURES AND FERTILIZERS:
A liberal quantity of bulky manure should be applied in field if
available.
About 10-15 tonnes of well rotten FYM or compost should be
applied 4-6 weeks before sowing and worked well into the soil.
It is necessary to supplement manures along with chemical
fertilizers to get high yields.
A crop of wheat yielding 50 quintals of grain per hectare removes
100-150kg nitrogen, 70-80kg phosphorus, 125-150kg potash from
the soil.

24. Condition Zones Recommended
Dose(kg/ha)
Time and
method of
application
Irrigated timely sown
crop
All zones N P₂O₅ K₂O
120 60 40
Half of N and full of
quantity of phosphorus and
potash and other half at
time of top dressing
Irrigated late sown crop All zones 80 40 20 Same as above
Irrigated timely sown
followed by a legume crop
or fallow in kharif.
Rain fed
All zones
Peninsular and central
zone
80 40 20
60 30 20
Same as above
Total quantity of nitrogen
and potash and
phosphorus 9-10cm in soil
at or sowing.

25. IRRIGATION:
The crown root initiation stage and the heading stage are the
critical stages when plant suffer most due to moisture stress.
A pre sowing irrigation should be given in crops of dwarf high
yielding varieties.
First irrigation to the standing crop should be given at 20-25 days
after sowing at crown initiation stage.
In hilly region or cooler areas the first irrigation is given 25-30
days after sowing.
2nd irrigation at tillering stage within 40-45 days after sowing.
3rd irrigation at jointing stage within 70-75 days after sowing.

26. Fourth irrigation at the time of flowering stage 90-95 days after
sowing.
Irrigation during this period is very important as the crop faces soil
moisture deficiency during this period.
Fifth irrigation at dough stage within 110-115 days after sowing.
The total number of irrigation may vary according to the soil type,
weather condition and the amount of water supplied per irrigation.

27. WEED CONTROL:
Weed emerges with emerging crop seedlings, if not controlled at
early stage causes reduction in yield up to 10-40%.
Wheat is infested by both monocot as well as dicot weed. They
are- Chenopodium album, Vinca sativa, Phalaris minor, Avena
fatua , Cyperus rotundus, Melilotus indica , Cynodon dactylon.
The most common herbicide to kill broad leaved weed is 2,4-D in
about 400-600 litres of water for spraying for one hectare area.

28. Phalaris minor Avena fatua
Cyperus rotundus

30. System of wheat intensification(SWI) :
The technology which has high potentiality to provide high wheat
yield per drop of water and per kg of agricultural inputs (fertilizer,
seed etc.) and application of other SRI principle to wheat crop, is
known as system of wheat intensification.
 Adoption of this technology can increase the productivity of wheat
by more than 2 times.
 The method is about managing the crop, soil and nutrients to
promote a vibrant soil system that, in turn, promotes larger root
systems.
With adequate spacing and loose soil, the roots of the crop can
grow deeper than conventional cropping methods.

31. Plant protection
Diseases:
Rust is most devastating disease of wheat caused by different species
of Puccinia.
Brown rust caused by Puccinia recondita tritici is rust in which uredial
pustules of brown rust develop mainly on leaves in clusters.
Yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis lemon yellow colour
pustules are formed in leaves later affecting leaf sheath and stalks as
well smaller than brown rust.
Black rust caused by Puccinia graminis tritici in this rust pustules occur
on stem, leaf sheath and leaves. By he time crop matures black
coloured pustules elongate which is killer of plants.

32.  Control: Grow rust resistant variety like HW-291, HW 2004.Stop use of
application of excessive nitrogen fertilizers as it increase rust development.
Spray 0.2% zineb or mancozeb 75WP when first rust pustules are seen.
 Loose smut: caused by Ustilago nuda tritici , the diseased plant are
distinguishable from healthy plant by the appearance of black powder in
place of wheat grain in the ear which is mass of fungal spore.
 Control: Growing resistant variety like Raj 2296 is best method of control
and other method is to treat the seed by vitavex at 2.5g /kg seed before
planting.
 Karnal bunt: caused by Tilletia indica leads to both quality and quantity
degradation of crop by black powdery mass along with grain which become
unfit for consumption. Can be controlled by using disease free seed and
growing resistant varieties.

33. Yellow rust( stripe rust) Black rust(stem rust)
Brown rust(leaf rust) Loose smut Karnal bunt

34. INSECT PEST:
These are not very serious in general but termites, aphids ,
shoot fly ,brown wheat mite, cutworms and borers can pose
problem among which termites are most serious.
These can be controlled by treatment of seed with
chlorpyriphos. Aphids can be controlled by spray of
monocrotophos.
RODENTS: They cause heavy loss to wheat crop and
considerable loss to the harvested crop lying in the stakes. Bait
with cumarin to control the rats.

35. Harvesting:
High yielding varieties can be harvested when the stem and
leaves turn yellow and become fairly dry.
The right stage of harvesting is the one when there is about 25-
30% moisture in grains.
Manually harvesting is done by serrate edged sickle.
Combines harvesters are also available which can do harvesting,
threshing and winnowing in a single operation.
Now a days power driven stationary threshers are used and
hasten the process of threshing.

36. Combine harvester

37. MANUAL
HARVESTING

38. THRESHING:
 The threshing and separation of the grain from the straw is done
in a variety of ways. The wheat crop may be beaten with sticks or
trampled by a bunch of animals.
 Animals may be used to draw a wheat bundle/stone roller over the
thick layer of harvested wheat crop.
 Or, an Implement consisting of a series of steel disks or thresher
is used.
 Tractor drawn thresher is used nowadays mostly.
DRYING:
At 14 percentage moisture grain can be safely stored for 2 to 3
months. For longer periods of storage from 4-12 months, the
moisture content must be reduced to 13 percentage or below.

39. STORAGE:
The farmers generally store their grain in simple
granaries constructed from locally available materials
like paddy straw, split bamboo, reeds, mud and bricks.
1. Mud structures mostly bins or pots
2. Wood or Bamboo structures
3. Metallic drums, bins or containers
4. Kothis (small rooms)
5. Bokharies (straw structures of wheat is stored in
bags in a room)

40. Manually harvested crop left
to dry on field
Tractor-drawn
thresher

41. YIELD:
High yielding dwarf varieties when produced by scientific method
yield 45-55 quintals of grain per hectare under irrigated condition.
Under rain fed condition the yield per hectare is 20-25 quintals.
For safe storage grain should be cleaned and dried in sun for a
few days so that the moisture content of grain come down to 10-
12%.

42. REFERENCES:-
 Singh Chhidda ,Singh Prem , Singh Rajbir, 2009,second edition
Modern Techniques Of Raising field Crops , Oxford &IBH Publishing
Company Pvt.Ltd.,113-B Shahpur Jat , Asian Village Side, New
Delhi110 049 ,India
 Hand Book Of Agriculture
 http://www.agriinfo.in/
 https://www.agripedia.biz/login/auth