• The most practical criteria commonly adapted for scheduling irrigation in wheat is on the basis of physiological growth stages, which are critical in demand for water.
• Sow wheat after a heavy pre-sowing irrigation (10 cm) except when it follows rice.
• In case wheat sowing is likely to be delayed due to the late harvest of rice, the pre-sowing irrigation for wheat can be given to standing rice 5-10 days (depending upon soil type) before its harvest except where the crop is to be harvested with combine. This practice advances the sowing of wheat by about a week.
• The first irrigation should be relatively light and given after three weeks to October-sown crop and after four weeks to the crop sown later.
• The subsequent irrigations are also determined by the date of sowing.
• Observe the following irrigation time-table for wheat sown on sandy loam or heavier soils on different dates.

Note:

1. Advance the date of the first irrigation on light soils and delay it by one week on heavy paddy soils.
2. The indicated intervals for irrigation can be varied by 2 or 3 days on either side.
3. For each cm of rain, increase the interval for the next irrigation by 5 days up to the end of January and by 2 days after this period.
4. For the timely sown crop if the irrigation date falls around 15th March no further irrigation is required in medium and heavy textured soils. However in light soils another irrigation may be given. In case unusual situation arises due to sudden rise in temperature at grain filling/ formation stage, irrigate the crop immediately. Care should be taken not to irrigate the crop on windy days to avoid lodging.
5. For the crop sown after December 5, continue irrigation up to April 10.

Top