Land Preperation in Main Field

  • Level the field. (Field levelling is more beneficial if done with laser leveller).
  • Immediately after kharif harvesting deep ploughing should be done with mould board plough. After that 2-3 cross harrowings followed by planking should be done.
  • If there is less moisture in the field, then irrigate the field before sowing and prepare the field by using harrow/cultivator if there is ideal moisture.
  • To prevent termites and other soil dwelling insects, mix Quinalphos 1.5% at the rate of 10 kg per acre in the field at the time of final ploughing before sowing the seeds.

Production Technologies for Resource Conservation

Laser land levelling

  • It is a process of smoothening the field within ± 2 cm from the average elevation of the field using laser equipped bucket, which scraps from higher places and spread onto the low-lying areas.
  • This may result higher yields due to proper crop stand, uniform fertilizer and water distribution, crop growth, uniform maturity and increased cultivable area by 3 to 6% due to reduction in area under bunds and channels.

Zero tillage

  • In this technology, wheat seed and fertilizers are directly placed at proper depth into the undisturbed soil after rice harvesting using a specially designed machine which creates narrow slits by the knife type furrow openers of zero tillage ferti-seed drill instead of shovel type furrow opener in conventional ferti seed drill.

Advantages

  • Saving of time, drudgery, water, labour, money and energy as well as less wear and tear of machinery.
  • Helps in advancing the sowing of wheat by 7 to 10 days which is very useful especially under late sown conditions where basmati rice/ cotton/ sugarcane harvesting is delayed beyond 25th November.
Fig: Wheat sowing with zero till machine

Happy seeder

  • Happy seeder is tractor mounted machine that cuts and lifts paddy straw, sows wheat seed into the bare soil and deposits the straw over the sown area as mulch.
  • It allows the farmers to sow wheat immediately after the harvesting of rice without burning the residue.
  • The wheat seeds with happy seeder are sown in the standing stubbles of rice which avoids the preparatory tillage and the crop can be sown 7-10 days earlier as compared to traditional method of sowing.
Fig: Wheat sowing with happy seeder machine

Seed Germination Test

  • Germination test should be conducted to check the germination percent of seed. To ensure optimum plant population and thereby good yield, minimum 85% germination is essential.

Seed Treatment

  • Seed treatment with Tebuconazole 2% DS @ 1 gm/kg seed

Spacing

  • Timely sown: 20-22 cm
  • If sowing is to be done by broadcasting method, then increase the quantity of seed by 25% and make sure that there is enough moisture in the field and the seeds should be scattered evenly.

Sowing Time:

  • RAJ 4037 is suitable for irrigated conditions and timely sowing is essential which will be from 1st November to 25th November

Seed rate

  • For timely sowing: 40 kg per acre.
  • For late sowing or sowing in alkaline and saline areas: 48 kg per acre.