Late sowing of wheat is a common phenomenon when early sowing is not possible due to various reasons such as delayed monsoon, waterlogging, or when the previous crop is harvested late. Late sowing has its own advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of late sowing is that the crop gets less exposure to high temperatures during the critical stages of grain filling resulting in better yield components. The disadvantages of late sowing are that the days available for crop growth and development are reduced, and the possibility of getting exposed to terminal heat stress increases.
In India, late sowing of wheat is mainly practiced in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Madhya Pradesh. Late-sown wheat needs to be sown during the period from 15th November to 20th December with suitable varieties. The suitable varieties for late sowing in wheat are those that have a shorter duration, good tillering ability, high responsiveness to inputs, and tolerance to moisture stress.
Some of the recommended varieties for late sowing in wheat are HD-2967, HD-3086, HD-3087, HD-3085, DBW-17, PBW-725, and WH-1022. These varieties have been extensively tested under late sown conditions and have shown good yield potential in different regions of India. HD-2967 is a high-yielding variety and is tolerant to radiation stress. HD-3086 has a yield potential of 5-6 t/ha and is recommended for irrigated late sown conditions. HD-3087 has a yield potential of 4-5 t/ha and is tolerant to drought and heat stress. HD-3085 is a semi-dwarf variety with good tillering ability and is suitable for both irrigated and rainfed conditions.
DBW-17 is a high-yielding variety with medium-maturity and is tolerant to moisture stress. PBW-725 is a variety that is tolerant to both drought and heat stress and has a yield potential of 4-5 t/ha. WH-1022 is a high-yielding variety with early maturity and is suitable for late sowing in irrigated conditions.
In conclusion, late sowing of wheat is a viable option for farmers who face early sowing constraints. However, the selection of suitable varieties is critical for realizing the yield potential of late-sown wheat. The recommended varieties for late sowing in wheat have been tested and are well adapted to the late sown conditions. These varieties have shown good yield potential and tolerance to various stresses that are associated with late sowing in wheat.