Wheat (Triticum spp.) is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize (784 million tons) and rice (651 million tons). Wheat grain is a staple food used to make flour for leavened, flat and steamed breads, biscuits, cookies, cakes, breakfast cereal, pasta, noodles, or biofuel. Wheat is planted to a limited extent as a forage crop for livestock, and the straw can be used as fodder for livestock or as a construction material for roofing thatch.

National Out-Look

Wheat is the main staple food item of the country’s population and largest grain crop of the country. It contributes 13.1 percent to the value added in agriculture and 2.8 percent to GDP. The size of wheat crop is provisionally estimated at 23.4 million tons, 11.7 percent more than last year crop. SOURCE: Economic Survey of Pakistan 2008-09

Useful tips for wheat production

1. Moisture should be conserved during monsoon by using deep tillage technology.
2. Resistant improved wheat varieties should be planted.
3. Treat the seed with recommended fungicides to control seed borne diseases.
4. Irrigations at the time of tillering and grain formation are critical.
5. Planting must be finished before Nov. 30 to obtain maximum yield.
6. Nitrogenous and Phosphatic fertilizers should be used in a ratio of 1:1 or 1: 1-1/2 .
7. Potassium fertilizer must be used if wheat is planted after rice or sugarcane and in sandy soils which had continuously been irrigating by tube well water.
8. Weeds must be destroyed by using chemical weedicides.
9. Harvesting should be done few days earlier in case of semi dwarf improved varieties to avoid shattering damages.

LAND PREPARATION

Deep ploughing should be used by sub soiler or mould board if sub soil is hard.
2-3 ploughings are recommended where chronic weeds are present. If possible Dab method should be used.
Rotavator should be used in proper moisture if tractor facility is available. Soil should become well pulverized and planker can be used for this purpose.
Moisture conservation by using mold board in rainfed areas has been very successful in obtaining good yield.
In case of limited water in plains, field should be divided into sub-plots.
Field boundaries should be made strong. Rat holes should be closed and pruning of trees should be done in the farm to avoid shade effects to the crop.

METHOD OF PLANTING

Barani Areas:
Drill or poring method is recommended for planting in barani areas. Planker should not be used if planting is done by "Pora". All fertilizer should be applied before planting. Pre-soaking treatment to the seed should be given for 8-12 hours if moisture is limited. Water used for this purpose should be free of salts which otherwise can affect seed germination.
Irrigated Areas:
Seed should not be placed more than two inches when semidwarf improved varieties are planted. The best results have been obtained in planting by drill because uniform and proper germination is obtained in this method. Second method of planting in "Kera" should be used in proper moisture to obtain better results. Good results could not be achieved through broad cast, but if there is no other solution except this one then 4-5 kgs more seed rate is recommended in this method. Dry sowing can also be done if planting is late and irrigation can be applied after planting. Dry sowing should only be done after December, 15 where water availability is limited. Seed should not be put more deep in this case. SEED

TREATMENT

Seed can be treated with Benlate, Vitavax 200 or Topson-M at the rate of 2.5 gms/kg seed or Derosal at the rate of 1.0 gms and/or Raxil 2DC at the rate of 1.50 gms/kg seed. Seed treatment can be done by using Drum with cover or shaking in the plastic bag.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

In general both nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers are of Primary importance to obtain good yields of wheat crop. It has been found, through experimentation, that both N and P must be in a proper balance in the ratio of 1:1 or at the most 1:1-1/2. Potassium sulphate should also be used at the rate of 12-15 kgs potash/acre (1/2 bag of Potassium sulphate) when wheat is planted after rice and sugarcane. The use of potash also becomes important in sandy weak soil which had been continuously irrigating with tube well water.
The whole quantity of phosphatic and half of nitrogenous fertilizer should be applied at seeding time while the remaining half of nitrogenous fertilizer be applied with first irrigation. In case phosphatic fertilizer is not applied at the time of planting this can be applied with first irrigation.
The whole quantity of Nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers should be used at planting time in rainfed areas. If somehow nitrogenous fertilizer was not applied at planting time, this can be applied at first rain. PH value of the most of the soils in Punjab has increased from 8.2 which is affecting fertilizer uptake efficiency of the soils. GYPSUM is recommended in such affected soils.

ORGANIC MATTER AND GREEN MANURING

In general our soils are deficient in organic matter and this situation is getting worst day by day. Therefore it is very important that proper crop rotation and green manure/farm yard manure should be used in our soils. This helps in the development of plant and increases water absorbing capacity of the soil. Root development become more vigorous. Guara and Jantar are good crops for green manuring. Guara has produced good results in irrigated areas whereas Jantar is recommended for saline soils and after rice. Arhar can be used for green manuring in barani areas.
Crop rotation for barani areas :
Wheat-Fodder-Wheat Wheat-Fodder-Millet
Crop rotation for plains : Wheat-Cotton-Sugarcane
Wheat-Berseem-Cotton.
Depending on soil conditions, 8-10 cart load of well rotten farm yard manure should be used.