Wheat 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 mostproduced 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 countrys 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

WHEAT PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY WHEAT PRODUCING ZONES AIRRIGATED Cotton zone, Central/ mixed zone & Rice zone BRAIN FED Rain-fed Zone A- IRRIGATED AREAS I) COTTON ZONE Total wheat area: 6.719 million acres i) Districts Sahiwal, Khanewal, Vehari, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Layyah, D.G. khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnager and Rahimyar khan ii) Cropping pattern

Cotton-wheat, Mung-wheat, Sugarcane-wheat, Kharif fodder/maize-wheat iii) Commercial wheat varieties Time of planting Nov.10 Dec.15 Nov.1 Nov.30 Remarks High yielding disease resistant, lodging resistant and general purpose variety suitable for rich soils under normal and late planting High yielding variety having durable resistance against rust diseases and suitable for early to normal planting with good performance under sandy soils High yielding variety with better adaptability, and good tillering capacity, suitable for early to normal planting High yielding slow rusting variety suitable for saline areas Recommended for irrigated areas of south Punjab for late planting Recommended for early and late planting in irrigated areas of Punjab Recommended for late planting in irrigated areas of the Punjab. Recommended for early and normal planting in the irrigated areas.

Name of Varieties Inqilab-91

Punjab.96

M.H.97

Oct.25 Nov.30 Nov.1 Nov.30 Nov.15 Dec.15 Nov.01Dec.15 Nov.15Dec.15 Oct.25Nov.30

Pasban.90 Bwp.97 Augab.2000 Iqbal.2000 Chenab-2000

Note: Maximum planting should be completed by 30th November and in no case should be extended beyond mid December. iv) Seed treatment and seed rate. Healthy and clean seed of recommended varieties should be used @ 50-60 Kg/ac. Seed should be treated with appropriate systemic fungicide. iv) Planting method v) Rabi drill or 'Kera' should be practiced to ensure better yields.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION PER ACRE Type of soil POOR MEDIUM FERTILE (KG) N 52 42 30 Bags DAP 2.0 1.50 1.0

P 46 34 23

K 25 25 25

UREA 1.75 1.50 1.25

POTASH 1.0 1.0 1.0

Note:- All the NPK fertilizer should be applied at the time of sowing in case of late planting in December (NP ratio 1.5:1 or 1:1). Common weeds: Phalaris minor (Dumbi sitti), Avena fatua (Wild oats), Chenopodium (Bathu) & Convolvulus (Lehli). vi) Weed control

Cultural: Double bar harrow should be practiced. Chemical: i) Selective weedicides for broad and narrow leaved weeds should be used. ii) Wide spectrum weedicides can be used when both types of weeds are problem. Note:i) Weedicides should be applied after Ist irrigation in good moisture condition when weeds are at 2-3 & wheat crop at 3-4 leaf stages. ii) Herbicides belonging to the same group or family should not be repeated in the same field, the following year. iii) Irrigations: Three irrigations are necessary at the critical stages after 'rauni' as given below. 1. Ist irrigation 20-25 days after sowing. 2. 2nd 3. 3rd " " At boot stage. At milk stage of grain development.

II).

CENTRAL/MIXED CROP ZONE Total wheat area 3.639 million acres

i)

Districts: Jhang, Faisalabad, Okara, T.T. Singh, Sargodha, Khushab and parts of Mianwali and Bhakkar.

ii)

Cropping pattern Sugarcane Wheat, Cotton Wheat, Kharif fodder/maize Wheat, Rice Wheat, Wheat - Fallow Wheat & Guar - Wheat

iii)

Varieties Inqlab-91, Pasban-90, MH-97, Punjab 96, Auqab-2000 and Iqbal 2000

iV)

Planting time Nov.Ist to Nov.25 for obtaining optimum yields and for late planting by Dec.15.

V)

Seed treatment and seed rate Seed treated with recommended fungicides be used at the following

rate Normal sowing 50 kg/ac Late sowing Vi) 60 kg/ac

Planting method Line sowing with Rabi drill or 'Kera' method should be practiced.

Vii)

Fertilizer application (Kg/ac) (KG) N 52 42 30 Bags DAP 2.0 1.50 1.0

Type of soil POOR MEDIUM FERTILE

P 46 34 23

K 25 25 25

UREA 1.75 1.50 1.25

POTASH 1.0 1.0 1.0

Note:- All the NPK fertilizer should be applied at the time of sowing in case of late planting in December (NP ratio 1.5:1 or 1:1).

Viii)

Weed control Cultural Chemical 'Daab' and double bar harrow. Same as mentioned earlier for Cotton zone.

ix)

Irrigations Four to five at critical stages of wheat plant growth. STAGE Crown root initiation Jointing stage Boot stage Pollination stage Dough stage NO OF DAYS AFTER SOWING 20-25 50-58 90-105 110-120 125-135

III).

RICE ZONE Total wheat area i) Districts Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Lahore and Kasur ii) Cropping pattern Rice - wheat (Major), Potato Wheat, Sugarcane wheat, Kharif Fodder/Maize Wheat, Mash Wheat, Sunflower - Kharif fodder - Wheat iii) Varieties Inqilab-91, Pasban-90, Punjab 96, Auqab 2000,Iqbal 2000 and Durum 97 and Chenab 2000. iv) Planting time November 10 to 25 for optimum yields; late planting should be completed by December 15. v) Seed treatment and seed rate 3.132 million acres

Healthy and clean seed of recommended varieties should be used @ 50-60 Kg/ac. Seed should be treated with recommended systemic fungicides. vi) Planting method Planting with automatic Rabi drill or zero tillage drill is recommended. vii) Fertilizer application Depending upon the type of soil and fertility level as given in case of cotton zone. viii) Weed control As mentioned in case of cotton zone. ix) Irrigations Three irrigations at the following crop stages are enough depending upon rainfall. 1st irrigation 35-45 days after Sowing. 2nd irrigation 3rd irrigation at boot stage. at dough stage of grain formation.

Note: Rainwater should not be allowed to stand in wheat field but be drained out to low lying areas. B- RAINFED ZONE Total wheat area i) Districts Rawalpindi, Attock, Jehlum, Chakwal, Narowal and Parts of Sialkot, Gujrat,Layyah, D.G.Khan, Muzaffargarh, Bhakkar, Mianwali and Khushab. ii) Cropping Pattern Wheat - Fallow Wheat, Wheat iii) Wheat - Groundnut Wheat, Wheat - Kharif fodder 1.770 million acres

Commercial varieties

VARIETIES Chakwal-86 Rawal-87 Kohistan-97 Chakwal-97 Inqilab-91

TIME OF PLANTING Oct.20 - Nov.15 Oct.20 - Nov.15 Oct.20 - Nov.15 Oct.20 - Nov.15 NOV.01 DEC.10

REMARKS For all Barani areas For all Barani areas For all Barani areas For all Barani areas For high rainfall & partially irrigated barani areas

iv)

Seed treatment and seed rate Healthy and clean seed of recommended varieties should be used @ 40-50 Kg/ac. Seed should be treated with recommended systemic fungicide.

Note: In case of low moisture soils, seed should be soaked in water for 8-10 hours before sowing. v) Planting methods Planting with Rabi drill, Pore or Kera should be practiced. vi) Fertilizer application (Kg/Ac) ANNUAL RAINFALL LOW RAINFALL 350 mm MEDIUM RAINFALL 350500 mm HIGH RAINFALL ABOVE 500mm (KG) N P 23 23 34 23 46 34 Bags DAP 1.0 1.0 1.5

K 25 25 25

UREA 0.75 1.25 1.50

POTASH 1.0 1.0 1.0

Note: All the fertilizer should be applied at the time of sowing vii) Weeds: Chenopodium(Bathu), Medicago spp. (Maina) Lathyrus spp. (Matri), Asphodelus tenuifolius (Piazi), Carthamus oxycantha (Pohli) etc. All weeds be removed through mechanical means/manual labour and can be used as fodder for live-stock. The Pre-emergence weedicides can be used in barani area in good moisture condition. KEY POINTS FOR OBTAINING GOOD WHEAT CROP.

1.

Proper seed bed preparation for crop growth and development. Moisture preservation through deep ploughing followed by Monsoon rains in Barani areas. Use of pure and healthy seed of recommended varieties with seed rate of 50 kg/acre for normal planting and 60 kg/acre for late planting. Seed treatment with proper fungicides before planting increases yield by 5-6%. Planting must be completed by the end of November and for late planting upto 15th of December. In Barani areas planting should be done with pore or automatic Rabi drill whereas for irrigated areas automatic Rabi drill should be preferred. Use of phosphatic fertilizers along with nitrogen is very essential both under irrigated and rain fed conditions. The N:P ratio of 1:1 or 1.5:1 be maintained. Application of Potash to the wheat crop on tubewell irrigated soils or sandy type soils or crop sown after rice, sugarcane etc is essential. Late planting should be completed by 15 December and all fertilizers be applied at planting time. Irrigations to wheat at critical stages of crop growth be ensured viz; 12-18 days after germination, at booting, milk and dough stages. In rice zone the first irrigation should be applied 3040 days after germination. Weed eradication through Daab, double bar harrow or spray of weedicides is very important. It should be practiced on vast areas in collaboration with extension services & private herbicide companies. In sick soils and in Barani areas planting of barley and Wadanak wheat should be preferred. In partially affected saline soils wheat variety Pasban-90 can be successfully grown. Extension service and electronic media should be consulted for improved wheat production.

2.

3. 4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Supply of inputs must be ensured before planting season at reasonable prices and without adulteration. Wheat varieties, Pasban 90, MH 97 and Uqab 2000 should not be sown in northern parts of the Punjab due to their moderately susceptible reaction against stripe rust.

14.

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 Barani OF PLANTING 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. IRRIGATION

Wheat plant has two critical stages for its water requirements. The first is at tillering stage which starts about a week after emergence. The first irrigation should therefore, be applied not later than 12-18 days after seeding. In rice growing areas the sub-soil is usually saturated with moisture as moisture retention power of the soil is high. The first irrigation in these areas should be delayed as long as possible. In many cases it may even be more than a month after emergence. The second critical stage is between anthesis and grain formation when irrigation is necessary. The remaining irrigations depending on rainfall should be well distributed between different growth stages. Generally 4-6 irrigations are applied to the wheat crop. The irrigation requirements in case of semi dwarf improved varieties is at the following growth stages. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Late At Grain Dough At crown Tillering jointing root initiation. stage stage. flowering formation stage.

Among 1. 2. 3.

above

mentioned Crown

stages,

three

stages root

are

very

critical. initiation. stage.

Boot Milk and dough

stages.

Depending upon the availability of water following irrigation schedule can be applied. Four 1. 2. 3. 4. irrigations. initiation. completion. Stage. stage.

Crown Tiller Booting Milk

root

Fiveirrigations. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Crown Tiller Late Flowering Milk

root

initiation. completion. jointing. stage. stage.

Six 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Limited One irrigation.

Crown Tiller Late Flowering Milk Dough

root

Irrigations. initiation. completion. jointing. stage. stage. stage. irrigation.

1.

Crown

root

initiation.

Two 1. 2.

Crown Boot

root

irrigations initiation. stage.

Three 1. 2. 3.

Crown Boot Milk

root

irrigation initiation. stage. stage.

WEED

CONTROL

Weeds can significantly reduce wheat yield. Although crop rotation can reduce the population of weeds, a large amount of weed seeds still remains in the fields. For better control, barharrow and weeding should be done. Weeding become more easy if wheat is grown on seed beds 45 cm apart. The distance between two lines on a seed should be 15 cm. This method of planting does not affect plant population and wheat yield per acre. Other method of weed control is used of chemical weedicides. Weeds should be removed from the fields within 4-6 weeks of seeding. Agriculture experts have recommended the following weedicides mentioned in Table-4. Recommended dose should be applied with 120 liters of water after first irrigation at proper moisture. If sprayer is not available at proper time then all the powdry weedicides could be applied with sand at proper moisture after first irrigation or mixed with urea and then irrigate.

HARVESTING/THRESHING

AND

STORAGE

1. Clean parts of field where crop is not lodged should be selected to keep as seed. Harvesting and threshing of that field should be done separately to avoid any mixture. 2. Harvesting should be done 2-3 days earlier in case of semi dwarf improved varieties. 3. Harvesting should be done when grain moisture is around 16-17 percent.

4. Grain should be dried properly to bring down moisture at 9-10 percent before storage. 5. If possible use thresher or combine to be more efficient and avoid losses. 6. Seed should be stored in proper clean stores to avoid insect damage. Fumigation should be done in the seed stores. 7. Use clean bags for storage.

Wheat production in Bangladesh Since the early 1970s, sustained government investment in irrigation facilities, rural infrastructure, agricultural research, and extension services has helped Bangladeshi farmers achieve dramatic increases in food production. Today Bangladesh is nearing self-sufficiency in rice, the major staple. Production of wheat, the second most important cereal, has also increased, although the country still imports significant quantities of wheat to meet rapidly growing domestic demand. While the government of Bangladesh continues to provide strong support to rice producers, its commitment to wheat farmers seems less firm. Some policymakers have gone so far as to question whether support to wheat should be scaled back, citing studies showing that

wheat production is unprofitable and represents an inefficient use of resources. But is wheat production in Bangladesh really unprofitable for farmers and inefficient for the country? Researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) recently examined the arguments for and against wheat production in Bangladesh. In Wheat Production in Bangladesh: Technological, Economic, and Policy Issues, Research Report 106, Michael L. Morris, Nuimuddin Chowdhury, and Craig Meisner used a combination of financial and economic analysis to compare production of two irrigated crops (wheat and boro rice) and three nonirrigated crops (wheat, oilseeds, and pulses) in five wheat-growing zones. Their goal was to determine the extent to which government policies and market failures may have driven a wedge between financial and economic profitability. Whenever financial and economic profitability diverge, farmers experience distorted incentives, and policy reforms may be necessary to encourage them to act in ways that are consistent with efficiency objectives. Bangladesh wheat production by year

Market Year Production Unit of Measure Growth Rate 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 29 33 40 45 35 35 36 59 90 101 107 112 115 111 116 218 259 348 (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) NA 13.79 % 21.21 % 12.50 % -22.22 % 0.00 % 2.86 % 63.89 % 52.54 % 12.22 % 5.94 % 4.67 % 2.68 % -3.48 % 4.50 % 87.93 % 18.81 % 34.36 %

1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

494 836 1093 967 1095 1210 1464 1042 1091 1091 1020 890 1004 1004 1065 1176 1131 1245 1370 1454 1803 1988 1673 1610 1510 1253 976 820 740 1200 849

(1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT)

41.95 % 69.23 % 30.74 % -11.53 % 13.24 % 10.50 % 20.99 % -28.83 % 4.70 % 0.00 % -6.51 % -12.75 % 12.81 % 0.00 % 6.08 % 10.42 % -3.83 % 10.08 % 10.04 % 6.13 % 24.00 % 10.26 % -15.85 % -3.77 % -6.21 % -17.02 % -22.11 % -15.98 % -9.76 % 62.16 % -29.25 %

2009 2010 2011 2012

850 972 1100 1200

(1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT) (1000 MT)

0.12 % 14.35 % 13.17 % 9.09 %

Crop p i n g B an gl ad esh s rab i season Bangladesh consumes more than twice the wheat it grows, and importing the shortfall is eating into its foreign currency reserves but researchers have identified potential for large increases in production Farming in the dry The new crops could be grown in the south, where an estimated 800 000 ha of land has until now remained underutilised in the rabi (dry) season. Farmers in southern Bangladesh have faced issues due to: limited irrigation infrastructure long duration local kharif rice varieties and lack of new varieties hotter temperatures than the north (averages 3C) with a shorter potential season some saline soils weeds in the rabi season (an issue for mungbean) lack of farmer expertise and limited extension experience. CSIRO modelling for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research suggests wheat and mungbean can be grown with low-risk, long-term economic feasibility, particularly if surface flood water, stored from the karif season, is sufficient for an in-crop irrigation potentially as much as a million tonnes of new wheat every year.

Putting findings into practice CSIRO researchers are putting these findings into practice in southern Bangladesh. They aim to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region by introducing crops, such as wheat, onto currently fallow lands during the post-Rabi season (after the wet season in Kharif). Key steps will be to: identify areas where rabiseason cropping is feasible develop agronomic practices for the south region especially for efficient use of water and fertilisers encourage farmer uptake of emergent cropping practices. They have demonstrated six modern wheat varieties at more than 200 farms across seven districts of the south (Barisal, Bhola, Noakhali, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Pirojpur and Patuakhali), generally in clusters of six farms - with the above varieties under irrigation and dry land. Component research has been conducted at the same sites, which aims to develop management practices adapted to the environmental constraints and packaged for farmers.