Whereas high yielding varieties (HYV) with reasonably high degree of resistance against diseases have been developed, the production level is still low and lagging behind many advanced wheat-producing countries. Efforts are, therefore, being made for increasing production and distribution of good quality seed in the country.

For increasing the wheat yield, suggestions based on experience are given below for the benefit of farmers during the present crop season:

(1) Prior to sowing, fields to be cultivated should be well levelled and cleared from previous plant debris and weeds.

(2) Seeds of high yielding wheat varieties resistant to rusts, bunts/smuts and root infecting fungi be sown.

(3) Seed treatment: Benlate, Baytan, Bayletan, Vitavax and Topsin M at the rate of 0.1 - 0.5 per cent be carried out, particularly in growing fields where complete, partial, or loose smut has developed and causes loss in the yield. Seed treatment will not only control bunt/smut fungal diseases, it will also check seed rotting/seedling blight caused by alternaria sp., fusarium sp. and helminthosporium sp., and will improve seed germination.

(4) Timely sowing be carried out under proper soil moisture condition. In Barani areas, which depend on rain water, deep ploughing be carried out to preserve moisture required for planting seed and its germination.

(5) Timely irrigation of wheat field and application of nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilisers be carried out.

(6) Potassium fertilizers be used in fields which are cultivated after the harvest of paddy/sugarcane because such fields generally become deficient in potash.

(7) Weeds being the main robbers of plant nutrition from soil, space and even light required for wheat plants, be controlled by cultural practices and in case of heavy infestation, eliminated by application of herbicides. Weeds-free fields will definitely increase yield.

(8) Care should be taken to check the pre- and post-harvest losses of wheat. Pre-harvest damage be checked from attack of birds. Post harvest losses should be checked from the attack of rodents and other insect pests and fungi. After thrashing, grains should be placed under hygienic conditions in field and godowns as well.