🌱 From Our Fields
The Art & Science of
Wheat Cultivation
Wheatron Agro Products sources its premium wheat from the fertile black cotton soils of Madhya Pradesh — a region blessed with ideal agro-climatic conditions. Our farmers follow time-tested practices combined with modern agronomy to produce grain of exceptional quality. Here's a comprehensive look at how premium wheat is grown.
Rabi Crop Season
Wheat is India's principal Rabi (winter) crop, sown between October and December and harvested from March to May. The cool, dry winters of MP provide the ideal temperature range of 10–25°C for optimal growth and grain filling.
Ideal Climatic Conditions
Wheat thrives in temperatures between 20–25°C during germination and 14–18°C during the grain-filling stage. The Malwa Plateau and Nimar valley of MP offer exactly these conditions, producing superior grain with higher protein content.
Water Requirement
Wheat requires 4–6 irrigations totalling 40–60 cm of water. Critical stages include crown root initiation (21 days), tillering (40 days), jointing (60 days), flowering (80 days), and grain-filling (100 days) stages.
Step-by-Step Cultivation Process
Soil Preparation
Deep ploughing (25–30 cm) with a mould-board plough is done after the Kharif harvest. The field is harrowed 2–3 times to break clods and achieve fine tilth. Organic manure (FYM) at 10–15 tonnes/hectare is incorporated during final land preparation. Black cotton soils of MP retain moisture well and are naturally rich in calcium and magnesium.
Variety Selection
Madhya Pradesh farmers cultivate three premium varieties that Wheatron specialises in — Sharbati (GW 322), Lokwan (NW 1014), and Malviya (HI 8498). Variety selection depends on soil type, water availability, and market preference. Certified seed from government seed corporations or trusted agro firms ensures genetic purity and disease resistance.
Sowing
Optimal sowing time is November 1–25 for timely sown wheat, and up to December 25 for late sown varieties. Seed rate is 100–125 kg/hectare for normal varieties. Seed is sown using a seed-cum-fertiliser drill at 20–22 cm row spacing and 5 cm depth. Seed treatment with Vitavax (carbendazim + thiram) protects against seed-borne diseases like loose smut and karnal bunt.
Fertiliser Management
Recommended NPK: 120:60:40 kg/ha for irrigated wheat. Full dose of P and K along with 50% of N is applied as basal at sowing. Remaining 25% N is top-dressed at first irrigation (crown root stage) and final 25% at second irrigation (tillering stage). Micronutrient deficiencies, especially zinc, are corrected with 25 kg/ha zinc sulphate every 2–3 years.
Irrigation Management
First irrigation (crown root initiation) at 20–21 days after sowing is the most critical. Subsequent irrigations at tillering (40 DAS), jointing (60 DAS), flowering/anthesis (80 DAS), milky stage (90 DAS), and dough stage (105 DAS). Flood irrigation, sprinkler, or drip methods are used depending on water availability. Avoid over-irrigation which causes lodging and fungal diseases.
Weed & Pest Management
Major weeds include Phalaris minor, wild oat, and broad-leaf weeds. Clodinafop-propargyl @ 60 g a.i./ha is applied at 30–35 DAS for narrow-leaf weeds; 2,4-D @ 500 g a.i./ha at 30 DAS for broad-leaf weeds. Key pests include aphids, Hessian fly, and stem fly. Rust diseases (brown, yellow, black) are controlled by timely fungicide application of Propiconazole or Mancozeb.
Harvesting
Wheat is harvested when grain moisture reaches 12–14%. Signs of maturity: straw turns golden yellow, leaves dry up, and grain becomes hard. Harvesting is done mechanically using combine harvesters at 90–120 days after sowing depending on variety. Threshing is done immediately to prevent post-harvest losses from birds and moisture. Properly harvested grain ensures maximum protein content and gluten quality.
Storage & Post-Harvest
Cleaned and dried grain (below 12% moisture) is stored in clean, dry warehouses. Wheatron uses modern silos and gunny bags lined with polythene sheets. Fumigation with Aluminium Phosphide (Celphos) tablets is done at 3 tablets/tonne to protect from storage pests (weevils, moth). Proper storage maintains grain quality for 12–18 months without quality degradation.
Expected Yield — MP Varieties
| Variety | Irrigated Yield | Rainfed Yield | Maturity | Best Soil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharbati (GW 322) | 45–55 q/ha | 25–30 q/ha | 115–120 days | Medium-heavy clay |
| Lokwan (NW 1014) | 40–50 q/ha | 20–25 q/ha | 110–115 days | Well-drained loam |
| Malviya (HI 8498) | 50–60 q/ha | 28–32 q/ha | 118–125 days | Deep black cotton |
