DESPITE last year’s excellent wheat crop (about 23 million tones), the country is facing flour shortage. There are various factors responsible for this shortage; however self-sufficiency in wheat is need of the hour. Now how to accomplish this Herculean task? Off course, one may think about increasing the cultivation area and/or increasing the per acre yield.

The first option is not applicable under the present circumstances as big part of agricultural land is being converted into residential and commercial plots in the process of urbanisation, salinity, water-logging, soil erosion and drought. Logically, the second option is practical to meet the mounting food requirements of the rapidly growing population.

The current per hectare yield of the country is much lower than the yield of developing countries such as India and China. Interestingly, there exists a wide gap between their national average yield (2.6 tones/hectares) and potential yield (7.0 tones/hectares). This gap in these two peaks is due to numerous management and agronomic factors that is farming communities mostly ignore due to one reason or the other.

Amongst the several factors responsible for low per hectare yield of wheat, late plantation of the crop is the major one. Numerous research studies have proved that wheat sown after November 25 results in a yield reduction of about 37 kg per hectare per day. The results of a survey showed that about 50 per cent of farmers sow their wheat crop late and face about 25-30 per cent reduction in yield. Late plantation of wheat is mostly caused by late harvesting of sugarcane, rice and cotton crops.

Most of the farmers complete sowing of wheat in December/January. It is an established fact that wheat crop matures at the same time, either sown in November, December or January, so crop planted in December/January can’t find enough time to complete its vegetative as well reproductive growth stages and bear less number of tillers and consequently grains as well. Wheat in Punjab and Sindh is cultivated on the same area which is utilised for growing cotton, rice and sugarcane crops.

In cotton-wheat belt farmers continue picking still in December due to late maturity of cotton varieties. Breeders have done a great job regarding developing early maturing varieties of cotton but still there is need to have such varieties which could complete their growth in time without compromising on quality of lint and attaining maturity by mid of November, so that wheat could easily be planted in those areas.

Attack of insect pests on cotton crop hinders timely sowing of wheat. During the current year attack of mealy bug has severely affected the cotton crop and reduced seed-cotton yield. Farmers try to recover the losses by allowing the cotton crop to stand in the field up to December/January to take third or fourth picking. High price of phutti (seed-cotton) also forces them for taking more pickings and late harvesting of cotton crop. Consequently, the sowing of wheat is delayed.

Relay cropping: Relay cropping technology for wheat could be a sound way to tackle this problem in the areas where planting of wheat is delayed due to late maturity and harvesting of cotton. Wheat can be sown in standing cotton crop using broadcast method. Cotton is allowed to grow and harvested after taking last picking at the end of December or first week of January. This results in timely sowing of wheat and additional benefit from cotton yield is also possible. The agriculture department should provide proper training and education to farmers about the useful technology of relay cropping.

Methodology: Irrigation is applied to cotton crop and wheat seed is broadcast in standing water to achieve good germination. The cotton crop is allowed to grow to attain maximum seed-cotton yield from late maturing bolls. When satisfactory target is achieved then cotton sticks are harvested and removed from the field. After that if the problem of weeds persists then suitable herbicide should be sprayed after harvesting of the cotton crop in proper moisture conditions keeping in view the extent and type of weeds present in the field. Recommended doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers will be applied.

Advantages: Timely sowing in the month of November yields promising results in terms of enhanced productivity of wheat. Environmental conditions at this time favour good seed germination and thus, lead to vigorous crop stand that reduces possibilities of insect pests attack and weed problems. Plants produce more number of tillers per unit area and leaf area is also increased which are instrumental in increasing yield due to efficient utilisation of solar radiation in photosynthesis, a biological phenomenon by which plant conserves solar energy into carbohydrates which are utilised for growth and development.

Plants receive required length of time for different growth stages, from germination to grain filling and consequently, the yield potential of crop plants is enhanced significantly. Farmers get additional income from cotton crop and quality of cotton is also enhanced which receive extra time to mature and complete its growth.

Relay cropping leads to zero tillage which improves the soil structure, reduces soil compaction and is helpful in maintaining organic matter content of soil. The soil remains covered and thereby reduces the chances of erosion of the upper fertile layer of soil. It also reduces farm labour and consumption of fuel resulting in reduction of expenses.