Late sowing of wheat crop means sowing the wheat crop after the ideal sowing period. In India, the ideal sowing period for wheat crop is between October 15 and November 15. However, due to various reasons such as late harvesting of the previous crop, delay in rainfall, late availability of irrigation water, etc., farmers sometimes have to sow the wheat crop beyond the ideal sowing period.
Late sowing of wheat crop has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of late sowing of wheat crop are:
1. Delayed sowing helps in avoiding the heat stress during the initial growth stages of the crop.
2. Late sowing has the potential to reduce the incidence of major diseases such as rust and powdery mildew.
3. Late sowing can help in reducing the chances of lodging by reducing the crop height.
4. Late sowing also helps in optimising the use of resources such as irrigation water, fertilisers, etc.
On the other hand, the disadvantages of late sowing of wheat crop are:
1. Late sowing reduces the yield potential of the crop as the crop has a shorter growing period.
2. Late sowing increases the risk of crop damage due to frost or other adverse weather conditions.
3. Late sowing may lead to poor grain quality due to delayed maturity and increased incidence of pests and diseases.
4. Late sowing also increases the chances of weed infestation.
In order to overcome the disadvantages of late sowing, farmers can choose late sown varieties of wheat crop. Late sown wheat varieties are those varieties which have a short growing period and can mature quickly. These varieties have the capability to establish early and mature before the onset of summer heat. The yield potential of these varieties is lower than the normal varieties, but they have better adaptability to adverse conditions.
Some of the recommended late sown varieties of wheat crop are:
1. HD 3086: It is a semi-dwarf variety with good tillering ability. It matures in 110 to 115 days and has a yield potential of 30-35 quintals per hectare.
2. HD 2967: It is a high yielding variety with good resistance to stem rust and leaf rust. It matures in 110 to 115 days and has a yield potential of 35-40 quintals per hectare.
3. HD 3086: It is a semi-dwarf variety with good tillering ability. It matures in 110 to 115 days and has a yield potential of 30-35 quintals per hectare.
4. DBW 17: It is a medium height variety with good tillering ability. It matures in 110 to 115 days and has a yield potential of 35-40 quintals per hectare.
In conclusion, late sowing of wheat crop can be beneficial if the right variety is chosen. Late sown varieties can help in optimising the use of resources and improving crop adaptation to adverse conditions. However, farmers should be cautious while choosing the variety and ensure that the variety is suitable for their farm conditions and the sowing time.