Wheat Traveling Seminar/ Summary Report
Coordinated Wheat, Barley and Triticale Programme
National Agricultural Research Center
Islamabad
Traveling Wheat Seminar
2008 (April 03-14, 2008)
A diverse group of scientists from federal and provincial research
organizations, traveled through wheat area in the provinces of Punjab and
N.W.F.P. during April 03-14, 2008. During the traveling seminar, national
uniform yield trials, breeding material and crop management trials planted by
different research institutes of Punjab and NWFP were visited. The group of
traveling seminar comprised of 15 scientists from collaborating research
institutes of four provinces, PARC Wheat Programme and CDRP. Randomly selected
farmer fields were also visited to assess the crop situation and status of the
currently grown wheat varieties in the country.
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Punjab:
In Punjab, ARF - Rahim Yar Khan, RARI Bahawalpur, Punjab Seed Corporation Khanewal, RCA Seed Khanewal, AARI Faisalabad, ARF Gujranwala, and BARI Chakwal were visited and data of the replicated National Uniform Yield Trials (Irrigated and Rainfed), micro and regional trials and international nurseries were recorded on crop stand, lodging and diseases.
In Southern Punjab (cotton – wheat cropping system), wheat varieties viz, Bhakkar-01, Inqalab-91, AS-02, Manthar were predominant in farmer fields, however, new varieties like Fareed-06, Sehar 06 and Shafaq-06 were also grown on farmers’ fields on small areas. Late cotton and delayed sugarcane crushing resulted in decrease in wheat area that was also evident from increased sunflower planting in this area. In some parts, the late wheat planting continued till the month of January. Reduced phosphatic fertilizer usage, shortage of irrigation water and lodging would have negative effects on yield. However, good quality seed, herbicide use, rust free season and low temperature at grain filling are some of the positive factors contributing towards better production.
In Central Punjab, Inqalab-91, Bhakkar-01, and Uqab are the predominant varieties grown on larger area. Three newly released wheat varieties viz. Sehar 06, Shafaq-06 and Fareed 06 and other varieties like AS-02 and Ufaq are also grown on small area. Planting trend in this region is like previous years. Weeds infestation and aphid problem was comparatively higher than cotton – wheat area. No rust was observed in farmer field but powdery mildew was present in most of the fields. Because of the high prices, decrease in use of phosphatic fertilizer was observed.
In the rainfed tract of Punjab, Inqalab91, Bhakkar01, AS-02, GA-02, Uqab, Wafaq-01 and Chakwal-97, are grown on farmers’ fields. At the time of planting moisture was limiting factor that reduced area and plant population. Rainfed wheat was also exposed to severe frost coupled with drought at early growth stages. Fertilizer use was low due to high prices. These factors may affect production in rainfed areas quite significantly.
NWFP:
In N.W.F.P., data on different agronomic traits and disease on different trials (National Uniform Yield trials both irrigated and Rainfed, international nurseries, crop management trials and Micro and Regional trials planted at CCRI, Pirsabak, NIFA Peshawar and Sugarcane Research Institute Mardan were taken.
In NWFP, dominant varieties include Saleem-2000, Pirsabak-04, Khyber-87, Bakhtawar-92, Fakhre-Sarhad, Uqab, Bhakkar, AS-2002 and Inqalab-91. Other varieties grown in area are Ghaznavi-98, Tatara, Suleman-96, Daman-98, Nowshera-96 and Pirsabak-05. It was very encouraging that Inqalab-91 has been mostly replaced and is on very small area in the province. Crop was planted in time and is gone through grain filling stage and this recent rains and low temperature would help to improve yield to some extent. Low fertilizer use and lodging are the main constraints in Peshawar valley. In NWFP the seed is mostly moved from Punjab through the dealers and there is not much choice with the farmers to get the right variety for the right area / ecology. The varieties which are susceptible to yellow rust are also moved in to this area. A strong recommendation is made that the research people in NWFP may also be invited before making decisions regarding variety / seed movement.
Sindh:
The information is provided by the scientists from
Sindh who made their own survey and observations. The wheat varieties viz. TD –
1, TJ-83, Kiran / Inqalab, Sarsabz and Bhakkar are the predominant varieties in
the province. The others include Bhittai, Marvi, Khirman, Anmol-05, Imdad-05,
Sassui, Bhakkar02, AS-02, Abadgar-93 and Moomal on small area. Because of
delayed sugarcane crushing and late cotton picking, decrease in area and late
planting of wheat was observed. Lower phosphatic fertilizer use, closure of
canal at critical stages of wheat development and terminal heat affect yield. It
is encouraging seeing that farmers are using better quality seed and applying
herbicide for weed control. In many parts of Southern Sindh, wheat crop
harvesting started as early as end of February or on the first week of March and
has been completed on 50 percent area; however, harvesting was delayed for 15
days this year. In Northern Sindh harvesting has been started. Overall crop
situation is satisfactory.
National Uniform Yield Trials (NUYT):
A total, of forty-three NUYTs (NUWYTs normal, shot,
rain fed and NUBYTs) were visited during the traveling seminar at different
Research Institutes and farmer’s fields in Punjab and NWFP. All the trials were
well managed and maintained except at couple of places. Data on different traits
(crop stand, lodging, scoring of different diseases) were recorded. Number of
entries in different categories 19 + 11 + 6 = 36 contributed from various
research institutes.
Disease and pest Situation:
This year, weather conditions were not favorable for rusts diseases during the wheat growing season and no rust was observed in farmer fields. Yellow rusts and leaf rusts were not common at farmer fields through out Punjab and NWFP as this is considered as escape year. No major damage to wheat crop is expected due to rusts.
According to CDRP scientists, stem rust was observed only in coastal area of Sindh (Badin, Thatta, Jhuddo, and Mirpur Khas). It still needs to be confirmed whether it is Ug-99 or local virulence. Samples have been collected for race analysis by the scientist of CDRP which will be analyzed locally and confirmed from a renowned US lab. Powdery mildew was observed on all wheat varieties in central Punjab.
Moderate aphid population was observed in some parts
of cotton-wheat cropping system of southern Punjab. However, aphid population
was more in central parts of Punjab. Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) was
observed in NWFP and was common at CCRI, Pirsabak and NIFA, Peshawar. Yellow
rust was present in late planted NUWYT trials in NWFP.
Crop Situation:
The wheat area targets for 2007-08 were set as 8.57 million hectares with production of 24 million tones. Because of late picking of cotton, delay in sugarcane crushing and drought at early period, wheat was planted on an area of 8.40 million hectares (2% less than the targets). Later, production target was revised to 22 million tones by MINFAL. Because of late planting, low phosphatic fertilizer use, shortage of irrigation water, early drought in rain fed area and frost attack (below normal temperature), crop situation does not look better than the last year. Most of the farmers interviewed in cotton-wheat and the overall rain fed area of Punjab were expecting lower wheat yield than the last year. Rainfed wheat crop faced early drought coupled with frost and low input usage, so the production in this region would be significantly lower. There has been reduction in use of fertilizer (Phosphatic) due to higher rates at planting and during the season. The use of herbicide on wheat and good quality seed usage in the country is on rise. Rainfalls in the first fortnight of April have lowered temperatures in various parts of the country that could help to reduce further losses in wheat yield where wheat crop is passing through grain filling stage. If there are no harsh weather conditions like hailstorm and sudden and abrupt changes in weather, the crop size may be close to 21.6 – 22.0 million tones.
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