Soil condition of major portion of central Punjab is loam to heavy loam, relatively salt affected and underground water is very brackish and very hardly fit for irrigation. This region is a transitional area between irrigated Punjab and south eastern desert of Cholistan. Poor soil health is and marginal farming is the character of most parts of this region. Wheat crop is at milky to dough stage during these days i.e; 2nd week of March 2022. There is no risk of aphid and leaf rust in this region. Last irrigation should be applied after mid of March.
A huge area of wheat is planted after harvesting rice crop in the core area of rice belt. Rice zone of Punjab consists mainly of Gujranwala, Narowal, Sialkot, some parts of Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin, HafizAbad, Nankana sahib and some parts of Chiniot, Jaranwala and Lahore. This region mainly comprises heavy clay loam soils and wheat crop has been planted from end November to end of December 2021. Under the scenario of rainfall pattern of previous three months and current weather conditions, to avoid the lodging losses, it has been directed in this video not to irrigate wheat fields until the mid of March. After mid March last irrigation should be applied as a finishing touch.
Wheat crop grown during the mid of November 2021, is of 115-125 days and reached the milky stage in central Punjab during the 2nd week of March 2022. Crop is mostly at dough stage in south Punjab and most parts of Thall areas but it is still at earing stage in rice zone and rain fed areas. Wheat is a weak stemmed crop and any irrigation at this stage, crop has produced maximum biomass, bumper crop may lead to lodging and heavy losses may result. Wheat needs proper soil moisture for the translocation of photosynthesis to the sinks (grains) at this stage. That is why, decision of irrigation during the mid of March particularly the last irrigation is of crucial importance. In this video, we have guided the wheat growers to be careful and very cautious for any irrigation at this stage. There is a general rule that in case of normal weather, mid-November sown crop, no irrigation should be applied after 20th of March. Being a wide difference between the latitude, soil, irrigation status and climate conditions of north and south, this rule can not be followed equally all over Punjab. Temperature is rising rapidly in south Punjab and last irrigation should be applied during the mid od March. Central Punjab should follow the rule of 20 March. North Punjab especially in the rice zone, last irrigation should be applied within 25 March. Instead of increasing, any irrigation after milky stage may reduce wheat yield. Physiological behavior of wheat has also been argued why miss irrigation at this stage may lead to poor yield.
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