20 October 2022, New Delhi: Wheat is a major cereal crop of Punjab. It was grown on an area of 35.30 lakh hectares during 2020-21 with production of 171.85 lakh tonnes and average yield of 48.68 quintals per hectare (19.7 quintals per acre).
Climatic Requirements: Wheat is a cool season crop. Higher temperature during early phase of the crop results in poor tillering and early heading. Higher temperature at grain filling stage leads to premature ripening and reduction in grain weight.
Soil Type: Wheat can be grown on all kind of soils, except the highly deteriorated alkaline and water-logged soils. Durum wheat should preferably be sown on medium to fine textured soils.
Recommended improved varieties of wheat for Punjab in Rabi 2022-23
PBW 826 (2022): This variety has been recommended for cultivation under timely sown irrigated conditions. Its average plant height is 100 cm and matures in about 148 days. It is moderately resistant to yellow rust and brown rust. It possesses lustrous bold grains. Its average grain yield is 24.0 quintals per acre.
PBW 869 (2021): This variety has been recommended for sowing with Happy Seeder/Super Seeder in in-situ rice residue managed fields. Its average plant height is 101 cm and matures in about 158 days. It is resistant to brown rust and moderately resistant to yellow rust. Its average yield is 23.2 quintals per acre. It possesses bold grains and longer coleoptile. Use 45 kg seed per acre.
PBW 824 (2021): Its average plant height is 104 cm and matures in about 156 days. It is resistant to brown rust and moderately resistant to yellow rust. Its average yield is 23.3 quintals per acre.
PBW 803 (2021): This variety has been recommended for cultivation in South-Western region of Punjab (Bathinda, Faridkot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Mansa and Sri Muktsar Sahib). Its average plant height is 100 cm and matures in about 151 days. It is resistant to brown rust and moderately resistant to yellow rust. Its average yield is 22.7 quintals per acre.
Sunehri (PBW 766) (2020): Its average plant height is 106 cm and matures in about 155 days. It is moderately resistant to yellow rust and resistant to brown rust. Its average grain yield is 23.1 quintals per acre.
PBW 1 Chapati (2020): This a premium quality bread wheat variety having excellent chapati making properties. Chapati made from it is whitish in color, sweet in taste and remains soft even after hours of cooking with good palatability and texture. Its average plant height is 103 cm and matures in about 154 days. It is moderately resistant to yellow rust and resistant to brown rust. Its average grain yield is 17.2 quintals per acre.
DBW 222 (2020): This bread wheat variety has been recommended for cultivation in the Punjab state except sub-mountainous regions. Its average plant height is 103 cm and matures in about 152 days. It is moderately susceptible to yellow rust and resistant to brown rust. Its average grain yield is 22.3 quintals per acre.
DBW 187 (2020): Its average plant height is 104 cm and matures in about 153 days. It is moderately resistant to yellow rust and resistant to brown rust. Its average grain yield is 22.6 quintals per acre.
HD 3226 (2020): Its average plant height is 106 cm and matures in about 155 days. It is resistant to yellow and brown rust. It possesses good grain quality characteristics. Its average grain yield is 21.9 quintals per acre.
Unnat PBW 343 (2017): It is an improved version of PBW 343 and has an average plant height of 100 cm. It is resistant to brown rust and moderately resistant to yellow rust. It matures in about 155 days. Its average grain yield is 23.2 quintals per acre.
Unnat PBW 550 (2017): It is an improved version of PBW 550, has average plant height of 86 cm. It is resistant to yellow and brown rust. It matures in about 145 days. It has bold grains and its average grain yield is 23.0 quintals per acre. Use 45 kg seed per acre and sow this variety during 2nd to 4th week of November.
PBW 1 Zn (2017): It possesses higher grain zinc concentration which is good for human health. Its average plant height is 103 cm and is resistant to brown rust and moderately resistant to yellow rust. It matures in about 151 days. Its average grain yield is 22.5 quintals per acre.
PBW 725 (2015): Its average plant height is 105 cm and matures in about 154 days. It is resistant to yellow and brown rust. Its average grain yield is 22.9 quintals per acre. This variety is suitable for growing under poplar plantation.
PBW 677 (2015): Average plant height of this variety is 107 cm and matures in about 157 days. It is moderately resistant to yellow and brown rust. Its average grain yield is 22.4 quintals per acre. This variety is suitable for growing under poplar plantation.
HD 3086 (2015): The average plant height of this variety is 96 cm and matures in about 156 days. It is susceptible to new races of yellow rust and moderately susceptible to brown rust. Its average grain yield is 23.0 quintals per acre.
WH 1105 (2014): Its plant height is 97 cm and matures in about 157 days. It is susceptible to new races of yellow rust and moderately resistant to brown rust. Its average grain yield is 23.1 quintals per acre.
HD 2967 (2011): Average plant height is 101 cm and matures in about 157 days. It is resistant to brown rust while susceptible to new races of yellow rust. Its average yield is 21.4 quintals per acre.
WHD 943 (2011): It is durum wheat (Wadanak) with an average plant height of 93 cm and matures in about 154 days. It has low incidence of yellow berry. It possesses desirable quality characteristics and suitability for pasta making. It is resistant to yellow and brown rusts and less susceptible to leaf blight. It possesses field resistance to Karnal bunt disease. Its average yield is 19.8 quintals per acre.
PDW 291 (2005): It is also durum wheat (Wadanak) with an average plant height of 83 cm and matures in about 155 days. It has low incidence of yellow berry and possesses suitable for pasta making. It is resistant to yellow and brown rusts, loose smut and flag smut and less susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf blight and head scab diseases. It possesses field resistance to Karnal bunt disease. Its average yield is 19.4 quintals per acre.
