As a vital staple crop grown in many parts of the world, wheat plays an essential role in human life. It provides a significant source of nutrition as bread, cereals, and other food products. Wheat is also an important source of income for farmers who depend on it for their livelihoods. Therefore, increasing the growth of wheat has become a priority for farmers and researchers, who are constantly exploring various methods to enhance wheat growth. Here are some ways to increase the growth of wheat:
1. Choose the right variety of wheat seeds: Selecting the right seeds for planting is the first step to enhancing wheat growth. Planting resistant and high-yielding crop varieties will ensure that the plant grows optimally and resist pests and diseases. Several research institutions are continuously developing improved wheat varieties that yield even in low fertile soil conditions.
2. Fertilization: Providing plants with essential nutrients is crucial to increase wheat growth. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are the primary elements required as they are essential for vegetative growth, maturation, and optimal yields. Fertilizers can be inorganic, organic, or a combination of both, but it is crucial to apply the right type and amount of fertilizer at the right time for maximal wheat growth.
3. Irrigation: Wheat requires the right amount of moisture to grow optimally. Lack of moisture will significantly reduce yields. An irrigation system is crucial to ensure that wheat gets ample water to grow well, considering the soil’s ability to retain water. There are two types of irrigation systems, surface water, and sub-surface water (e.g., drip, sprinklers), with a combination of both yielding optimal results.
4. Pest and disease control: Pests and disease cause massive damage to crops, reducing yields drastically, so it’s essential to control them. Strategically spraying insecticides and fungicides to control pests and diseases is an effective measure to control their population and safeguard the crop’s growth.
5. Proper crop rotation: Growing wheat in the same field year in year out can be harmful to the crop itself, as it leads to the depletion of soil nutrients and soil erosion. Thus, crop rotation is essential to provide the crop with a variety of nutrients, suppress soil-borne diseases, and improve overall soil health.
In conclusion, increasing wheat growth is a vital factor to ensure food security and farmers’ livelihoods. Selecting the right seed variety, appropriate use of fertilizers, irrigation, pest, and disease control, and proper crop rotation are among the most effective methods of increasing wheat growth. Moreover, research is ongoing, focusing on exploring new methods to enhance wheat growth and increase yields.