- Sow timely wheat between 1 and 25 November; every week of delay after that costs yield.
- Give all phosphorus and potash, and half the nitrogen, at sowing.
- The first irrigation at crown-root initiation (about 21 days) is the most important one — never skip it.
- Apply the remaining nitrogen right after the first irrigation, not on dry soil.
Sowing time and seed rate
Wheat needs cool weather to tiller and a gradual warm-up to fill grain. Sowing too late pushes grain filling into the hot winds of late March and shrivels the grain.
| Situation | Sowing window | Seed rate | Row spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timely sown, irrigated | 1–25 November | 40 kg/acre (100 kg/ha) | 20–22 cm |
| Late sown, irrigated | 26 Nov – 25 Dec | 50 kg/acre (125 kg/ha) | 18 cm |
Choose a variety recommended for your zone and sowing time — ask your KVK or seed dealer.
How much fertilizer, and when
The figures below are general recommendations for irrigated, timely sown wheat. A soil test tells you what your own field needs — it often saves money on phosphorus and potash.
| Nutrient | Per hectare | Per acre | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 120–150 kg | 48–60 kg | Half at sowing, half after 1st irrigation |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 60 kg | 24 kg | All at sowing |
| Potash (K₂O) | 40 kg | 16 kg | All at sowing |
| Zinc Sulphate with Micronutrient Mixture (if deficient) | 25–30 kg | 10 kg | At sowing, as per soil test and label |
Western UP generally needs the higher nitrogen figure; eastern UP the lower. Reduce nitrogen if the previous crop was a legume or you applied plenty of farmyard manure.
In common fertilizers, one acre at the lower nitrogen level works out to roughly: 52 kg DAP + 27 kg muriate of potash + about 32 kg urea at sowing, then about 52 kg urea after the first irrigation.
The six critical irrigations
Wheat responds most to water at six stages. If water is short, give the irrigations in this order of priority: crown-root initiation, flowering, jointing, then the rest.
- Day 0Sowing ½ N + all P & K
- Day 20–25Crown roots Irrigate Other ½ N after watering
- Day 40–45Tillering Irrigate
- Day 60–65Jointing Irrigate
- Day 80–85Flowering Irrigate
- Day 100–105Milk Irrigate
- Day 115–120Dough Irrigate
| Stage | Days after sowing | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Crown-root initiation (CRI) | 20–25 | Crown roots form; missing it cuts tillers and yield the most |
| Tillering | 40–45 | More productive tillers |
| Jointing | 60–65 | Stem and ear development |
| Flowering | 80–85 | Grain set — avoid stress |
| Milk stage | 100–105 | Grain filling |
| Dough stage | 115–120 | Grain weight |
Common problems to watch for
- Yellowing from the leaf tip on older leaves around tillering: usually nitrogen shortage — check that the second dose went on after irrigation.
- Pale stripes between veins on middle leaves, patchy growth: often zinc deficiency, common in light and high-pH soils. Prevent it with a zinc and micronutrient mixture at sowing.
- Yellow or brown rust stripes or pustules that rub off on your fingers: a fungal disease — get it identified and use a recommended fungicide early.
- Weeds such as Phalaris (gulli danda) and wild oats: control within 30–35 days of sowing for the best effect.
Harvest and after
- Harvest when grains are hard and moisture is about 20% or less — usually late March to mid-April.
- Do not burn the residue — it destroys soil organic matter and is prohibited. Incorporate it or use a happy seeder for the next crop.
- After harvest is the best time to take a soil sample for the next season.
