Wheat

When to sow and harvest

Will it grow on your land?

What it needs

Source: FAO ECOCROP crop requirements (via OpenCLIM/ecocrop); FAO-56 crop coefficients (Allen et al. 1998); IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°).

• Yellow rust

  Disease

  Look for Yellow powdery stripes on leaves that rub off on your fingers; common in cool, moist weather in north India.

  First Sow a resistant variety. At the first patches, spray propiconazole or tebuconazole. Follow the label or your KVK for the dose.

• Brown rust

  Disease

  Look for Small orange-brown powdery spots scattered over the leaves.

  First Sow a resistant variety; spray propiconazole when spots appear. Follow the label or your KVK for the dose.

• Loose smut

  Disease

  Look for At heading, ears turn into black powder instead of grain.

  First Sow certified seed treated with carboxin or tebuconazole; pull out smutted ears before the powder spreads. Follow the label or your KVK for the dose.

• Termites

  Pest

  Look for Plants wilt and dry in patches; roots eaten; worse on light, dry soil.

  First Use only well-rotted manure, treat the seed as your KVK advises and irrigate on time.

• Aphids

  Pest

  Look for Small green insects in clusters on leaves and ears; leaves turn sticky.

  First Usually not worth spraying. If they are thick on the ears, spray imidacloprid or thiamethoxam. Follow the label or your KVK for the dose.

Mandi price, month by month

Government minimum support price (MSP): ₹2,610 a quintal for 2027-28.

Source: Agmarknet daily prices and arrivals (India Data Portal).

Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 1998-99 to 2024-25.

1. Sangrur, Punjab 5.2 t/ha
2. Karnal, Haryana 5.1 t/ha
3. Malerkotla, Punjab 5.1 t/ha
4. Barnala, Punjab 5.1 t/ha
5. Mansa, Punjab 5.0 t/ha
6. Fatehabad, Haryana 5.0 t/ha
7. Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab 5.0 t/ha
8. Chandigarh, Chandigarh 5.0 t/ha
9. Moga, Punjab 5.0 t/ha
10. Bathinda, Punjab 4.9 t/ha

Only districts growing it on at least 100 ha.

Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 1998-99 to 2024-25.

Only years in which most of the usual districts reported are shown.

Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 1998-99 to 2024-25.

• Districts with more soil low in nitrogen tend to have higher wheat yields (moderate pattern, 465 districts).
• Districts with more soil medium in nitrogen tend to have lower wheat yields (moderate pattern, 465 districts).
• Districts with more soil that is acidic tend to have lower wheat yields (moderate pattern, 485 districts).
• Districts with more soil high in organic carbon tend to have lower wheat yields (moderate pattern, 485 districts).
• Districts with more soil high in nitrogen tend to have lower wheat yields (moderate pattern, 465 districts).
• Districts with more soil low in organic carbon tend to have higher wheat yields (weak pattern, 485 districts).

A pattern is not proof that soil causes the difference.

Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).