Crop production technology of wheat includes origin, history etc

Crop prodcution technology of wheat

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

2. Five wheat species in India are: Triticum aestivum (common bread wheat) - Hexaploid Triticum durum (Macaroni wheat) - Tetraploid Triticum dicoccum (Emmer wheat) - Tetraploid Triticum spherococcum (Indian dwarf wheat) - Diploid Triticum monococcum (Wild wheat or Einkorn wheat) - Diploid

3. 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.

4. 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%.

5. 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.   

6. The two most important wheat growing zones are the  North-western Plains Zone  and the  North-eastern Plains Zone. North-Western Plains Zone:  It includes states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western UP, foothills of Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir North-Western Plains Zone is the  most important wheat-growing zone in India.  Production of wheat consists of about  40% of the area  in the zone states. About  55% of total wheat production in India  is done in this zone. This zone is the coolest and has the longest period of winter which makes it an ideal condition for wheat production and the crop duration is  more than 140 days .

7. North-Eastern Plains Zone : It includes states like Bihar, Orissa, Eastern UP, West Bengal, Assam and other northeastern states. North-Eastern Plains Zone is the  second most important wheat-growing zone in India . It consists of about  30% of the area  in the zone. About  25% of total wheat production in India  is cultivated in this zone. It has shorter winters and is a relatively warmer zone which is why the crop duration is lesser than 130 days .

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 10 th to 15 th 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. 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. Seed rate for dibbling is 25-30 kg/ha.

20. 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.

21. Sowing of wheat manually

22. Sowing behind the local plough The kera and pora methods are two different ways of sowing seeds: Kera method:  In this method, seeds are dropped by hand into furrows.  Pora method:  In this method, seeds are dropped through a pora or nai , which is a wooden structure attached to the plough. 

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 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 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 initiation : 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 voided at the time of germination.

26. 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. 3 rd irrigation at jointing stage within 70-75 days after sowing.

27. 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.

28. 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, Phalaris minor, Avena fatua , Cyperus rotundus, Melilotus indica , Cynodon dactylon. PrE – Pendimethalin @ 3.3 litres / ha. Spray Isoproturon 800 g/ha as pre-emergence spraying 3 days after sowing followed by one hand weeding on 35 th day after sowing. (to control Phalaris minor, Avena fatua ) If herbicide is not applied, give two hand weedings at 20 – 35 DAS. Mixture of Isoproturon (0.75 kg ai/ha) and 2, 4 - D (0.4 kg ai/ha) during 30- 35 DAS (PoE).

29. Phalaris minor Avena fatua Cyperus rotundus

30. Plant protection Diseases: Seed treatment: Treat the seed with any one of the following fungicides Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg of seed, Thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed or Carboxin @ 2 g/kg of seed. 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.

31. 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.

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

33. 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. Poison bait to control the rats.

34. 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.

35. Combine harvester

36. MANUAL HARVESTING

37. 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: For longer periods of storage from 4-12 months, the moisture content must be reduced to 13 percentage or below.

38. 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 o f wheat is stored in bags in a room)

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

40. 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%.

41. 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

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