Wheat

https://agri.bot/crop-calendar/wheat

India's primary Rabi cereal, sown after the monsoon withdraws and harvested in spring.

Twelve-month operations

Fertilizer schedule

Half N + full P and K as basal; remaining N split between first irrigation (CRI) and tillering. Refer ICAR-IIWBR package of practices for state-specific NPK guidance.

Pest & disease management

Yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) is the major disease in northern hills and plains in Feb – Mar; aphids on ear-heads in late tillering. Follow ICAR-IIWBR varietal and rust advisories.

Irrigation

Critical stages: crown root initiation (~21 DAS), tillering, flowering and grain filling. Typically 4 – 6 irrigations under irrigated conditions.

Sources

• ICAR-IIWBR — Indian Institute of Wheat & Barley Research
• ICAR-IIWBR Production Technologies

Frequently asked questions

When is the optimum sowing window for wheat in the North-West plains?

ICAR-IIWBR recommends 1 – 25 November as the timely sowing window for the North-Western plains zone (Punjab, Haryana, western UP, Rajasthan). Sowing after 25 November is treated as late and typically needs a late-sown variety and a slightly higher seed rate.

How many irrigations does an irrigated wheat crop need?

Under full irrigation, 4 – 6 irrigations are standard. The six critical stages are crown root initiation (~21 days after sowing), tillering, jointing, flowering, milking and dough. The CRI irrigation is the single most important one — missing it can cut yields by 20 – 25%.

How do I identify and manage yellow rust in wheat?

Yellow (stripe) rust appears as yellow-orange powdery pustules in parallel stripes on leaves, usually from mid-January in the northern hills and February–March in the plains. If detected early, a spray of propiconazole 25 EC @ 0.1% (1 ml/litre) is effective. Follow ICAR-IIWBR rust advisories released each season.