Time Based package of practices for Wheat

First prime minister of India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru remarked on Independence Day, 1947: "everything else can wait, but not agriculture.Timely application of production inputs alone can play very important role to realize potential yield of crops. It is well known that farming communities are interested in the activities associated with crop production and especially regarding the appropriate time for agricultural practices. In the aspect of time based application of agricultural inputs, farmer want to know competency questions such as when the crop should be first irrigated after sowing, what is the appropriate time for application of post emergence weedicides ,My crop is 40 days old now what should I do? and other similar questions. Package of practices developed for crop production are location specific and mainly depends on prevailing climate, weather, soil, agro climatic zone and varieties. Time based package of practices in wheat for normal duration variety have been design with the intention to apply agricultural practices at right time.

0 Day Selection of seed: Only healthy seeds of right cultivar suitable for a particular locality should be selected for sowing. The seed should be certified of reliable source. Seed treatment: It is suggested that seed should be treated with vitavax, Bavistin, Thiram or Agrosan GN @ 2.5 gm per kg seed for the management of loose smut, ergot, flag smut and head scab disease. To protect the crop from Termites and white Ants particularly in rainfed area, treatment is suggested with Endoslphan 35 EC or Chlorapyriphas 20 EC @ 700 ml per 100 kg of seed followed by seed drying overnight before sowing. To avoid nematodes problem, use gall-free seeds and seeds float in brine solution, rinse and dry before sowing. Sowing time:        A. Irrigated timely sown crop NWPZ, CZ and PZ 1st fortnight of November NEPZ Middle of November NHZ Mid hills 1st fortnight of November High hills 2nd fortnight of October Very high hills Middle of May Southern hills October for cool season crop May/June for summer Season crop                                                                    B. Irrigated late sown crop          Sowing should not be delayed beyond the following dates since the reduction in          yield level would be very high: NWPZ 25th December NEPZ and CZ 15th December PZ 10th December        C. Rainfed timely sown crop: End of October to beginning of November - in all zones Some tall varieties can be sown even in middle of October If moisture can be retained in upper layers, some semi-dwarf varieties can be sown till middle of November Seed rate: Timely sown- 100 kg/ha. Late sown- 125 kg/ha. By dibbler- 25-30 kg/ha. Through broadcasting- 125 kg/ha. Spacing: Timely sown crop a spacing of rows 20-22.50cm. Late sown crop a spacing of rows 15-18cm. Depth of sowing: 4-5 cm below the soil surface. Method of sowing: Broadcasting   This method is as old as agriculture it self but it has several draw backs viz. all seeds do not get better soil moisture contact and do  not germinate, a part of the seed is eaten up by birds and  ants etc., which results in uneven and poor germination. Thus, If needs abut 25 per cent higher seed over the recommended one.
Sowing in furrows After proper seed bed preparation the seed is dropped in furrows behind the country plough by hand (Kerri method). Some times a funnel attached with an iron pipe in the hand of plough (pora/nai) and the seed is dropped at desired depth and spacing for obtaining satisfactory germination (the method is called as pora). Dibbling The method was popularized during early sixties and proved under limited seed availability however, being time taking cumbersive and labour intensive it could not be commercialized. Drilling The sowing is done through seed drills/seed cum fertilizer drill and it has gained popularity.  In this way the seeds dropt at uniform depth and results in uniform germination and regular stand. Zero Till Seed Drill (ZTSD) method  The ZTSD was developed by G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology for rice-wheat cropping system Zones which is used for sowing of wheat seed and rice stables immediately after harvest of rice, to utilized the residual soil moisture and reduce the period, otherwise required for seed bed preparation. It is now gaining popularity as it results in nearly equal productivity as obtained by conventional method of sowing done about a fortnight earlier. For grater advantage the established weeds must be removed and bunds prepared in the field should be broken. Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed (FIRB)  This method has been evolved to economise irrigation water in which raised beds of prepared to accommodate 2 or 3 rows of wheat between two furrows. The irrigation is done only in furrows. Thus about half of the irrigation required may be saved by this method without any loss to the productivity of wheat grain. The wheat yield has been found to be higher than conventional method at Directorate of Wheat Research (DWR), Karnal. A machine has been developed to make raised bed and sowing of wheat simultaneously has been developed for this purpose. This method helps in economizing water required by the crop besides giving better germination. Fertilizers doses: Timely sown dwarf varieties- 120:60:40 kg NPK/ha Late sown dwarf varieties and rainfed condition- 80:40:30 kg NPK/ha Timely sown deshi varieties- 60:40:30 kg NPK/ha Late sown deshi varieties- 30:20:15 Kg NPK/ha Method of fertilizer application: In case of dwarf timely sown varieties and medium and heavy soil, application of half dose of Nitrogen and full dose of P&K should be basal dressed below 5 cm. of the seed in furrows. The remaining half quantity of Nitrogen should be top dressed in two split doses. In case of dwarf late sown varieties, deshi varieties and light soil, application of two third of Nitrogen and full amount of P&K should be basal dressed below 5 cm. of the seed in furrows. The reaming quantity of Nitrogen should be top dressed at the time of first irrigation. In the rainfed condition total amount of NPK should be basal dressed in the soil below 5cm. of the seed at the time of sowing.
2-5 Days Pre-emergence application of weedicide of pendimethalin @ 1kg.ai/ha in 900-1000 liters of water for the control of narrow leaves as well as broad leaves weeds. Preparation of basin for the irrigation by basin system of irrigation.
20-25 Days First manual weeding can be done with the help of Khurapi or hoe for the control of weeds. First irrigation should be given at the crown root initiation stage for the better development of crown roots. This is most critical stage for irrigation. Top dressing of remaining doses of nitrogen. In medium and heavy soils-top dressing of remaining 1/2 of the nitrogen whereas in light soils top dressing of 1/4 nitrogen. If cutworms attack is found at this stage then apply Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 0.8-1.0 kg per ha in irrigation water. Surface grasshopper infestation may found at this stage. Management of pest can be done by dusting the crop with 5% carbaryl or 5% malathion or methyl parathion 2% @25 kg per ha. The attack of termite is also found at this stage. In the standing crop, use 2.5 litre per ha of Chlorpyriphos 20 EC or Endosulfan 35 EC 2.5 litre along with irrigation water.
30-35 Days Post-emergence application of Isoproturon at the rate 0.75 kg. ai per ha or leader @ 33 gm per ha or topic @ 400 gm per ha for narrow leaf weeds control such as wild oat and Phalaris. Application of 2, 4-D @ 625 gm per ha for the control of broad leaf weeds control. Ghujhia weevil attack is also found at this stage. The damage is caused by the adult weevils only and they cut the germinating seedling at the ground levels. To control the damage of weevils dusting of carbaryl or Malathion 5 per cent @ 25 kg per ha.
40-45 Days Second manual weeding with the help of Khurapi or hoe for the removal of  weeds. Second irrigation at maximum tillering stage. In case of light soil top dressing of  remaining ¼ nitrogen At this stage Shoot fly infestation is found. Maggots of this insect damage the leaf sheaths of tillers which results in dead hearts. If shoot fly attack is noticed then spraying of cypermethrin @ 50gm ai/ha.
60-65 Days Application of third irrigation at the late jointing stage. Leaf blight disease appearance is found at this stage. For the control of it, spraying of Dithane M-45 or Dithane Z-78 or Tilt 25 EC @ 500 ml per ha. If symptoms of rust appear at this stage then spraying of fungicide such as mancozeb @ 2.0-2.5 kg/ha for control of leaf rust and stem rust.
80-85 Days Fourth irrigation should be given at the time of flowering stage. Irrigation at this stage is very important because during this period plant suffer most from soil moisture deficiency, due to moisture deficiency this stage grain number and grain size are reduced considerably If there are only two irrigations available then it should be second irrigation. If disease karnal bunt appears this stage then spraying of Tilt 25 EC @ 500 ml per ha or spraying of Baycor @ 2.0 gm per litre water for control of karnal bunt. Loose smut, Ergot, Flag smut and Head scab diseases appearance is also found at this stage. For control of these, locate the affected plants and destroy them by burying and burning carefully.
100-105 Days Fifth irrigation at the time of milky stage. If there are only three irrigations are available then third irrigation should be given. The attack of aphid is widely found at the stage in the wheat crop. For the control of wheat aphid spray 375 ml of dimethoate 30 EC or oxydemeton Methyl 25 EC or Monocrotophos 36 SL in 250 litres of water/ha.
115-120 Days Sixth irrigation at the time of dough stage. This irrigation should be given very carefully; the water stagnation should not be for long hours otherwise the crop may fall due to speedy winds. Armyworm attack is found at this stage. The larvae feed on awns and immature grains. The most obvious damage to wheat is "head clipping" when caterpillars chew completely through the stem and the head falls of the plant. For the control of this insect spray 500 ml of dichlorvos 85 SL or 3kg of carvaryl 50 WP or 1 litre of quinalphos 25 EC in 250 litres of waters/ha.
130-140 Days High yielding dwarf varieties of wheat should be harvested when the leaves and stems turn yellow and become fairly dry. The right stage for harvesting is when there is about 25-30 per cent moisture in grains. Harvesting is normally done serrate edged sickles by hand. Bullock-drive reapers are also used occasionally. Combines are also available which can do harvesting, threshing and winnowing wheat crop in single operation.
140-150 Days After proper drying of harvested crop threshing should be done. Threshing is generally done by various types of threshers which are common in different parts of the country. After threshing 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 fumigated to keep down the attack of stored grain pests.