Performance of timely sown irrigated wheat varieties under irrigated conditions in Faridabad district of Haryana

Introduction

India consistently ranks among the world's leading wheat-producing nations, contributing significantly to global food security. The crop occupies nearly 30 million hectares in the country, with annual production exceeding 100 million tonnes in recent years. Despite being the second-largest wheat producer globally, yields vary considerably across states and agroclimatic zones. Northern states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh remain the primary wheat belts. Frontline demonstrations (FLDs) serve as an important extension approach to bridge yield gaps and promote the adoption of improved agricultural technologies (Desai et al., 2021) [2] . Conducted under farmers' field conditions and supervised by experts, FLDs allow real-time evaluation of varieties and production practices while highlighting extension and technology gaps. In Faridabad district of Haryana, wheat is the dominant rabi crop, yet productivity is often constrained by varietal choice. Selecting varieties suited to local growing conditions is critical for optimizing yield potential (Singh, 2017) [11] . High-yielding, timely sown varieties can ensure better productivity during the optimum growing season (Reager et al., 2018) [8] . To address these challenges, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Faridabad introduced improved wheat varieties and recommended agronomic practices through FLDs. These demonstrations aimed to encourage adoption of superior varieties, increase yield, and generate farmer feedback regarding adoption constraints. Against this background, the present two-year study was undertaken to evaluate the productivity and profitability of promising wheat variety under timely sown irrigated conditions through FLDs on farmers' fields.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted during three consecutive rabi seasons (2021-22 to 2022-23) on farmers' fields in Faridabad district, Haryana, through FLDs organized by KVK, Faridabad. A total of 60 demonstrations were laid out, covering 24 ha under the paddy-wheat cropping system with active farmer participation. Selected farmers were trained in scientific wheat production practices before implementation. The soils of the demonstration sites were [9] . Formulas used:

• Results and Discussion Productivity Table 3 compares the performance of timely sown wheat under Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) using Improved Practices (IP) and Farmers' Practices (FP) from Rabi 2021-22 to 2022-23. In 2021-22, 30 demonstrations (12 ha) using WH1105 recorded 53.8 q/ha (IP) against 47.3 q/ha (FP), showing a 13.74% gain, an extension gap of 6.5 q/ha, and a reduced technology index of 3.92%. In 2022-23, WH1105 again outperformed FP (52.5 vs. 45.0 q/ha), with a 16.66% yield increase, a 7.5 q/ha extension gap, and a 6.25% technology index. Overall, across 60 demonstrations (24 ha), IP averaged 53.15 q/ha against 46.15 q/ha in FP, reflecting a 15.2% yield advantage. The mean extension gap (7.0 q/ha) and technology index (5.0%) confirm that improved practices are practical and profitable, significantly boosting wheat productivity under timely sowing.

Gap Analysis: Extension Gap: Averaged 7.0 q/ha (range: 5.1 to 7.5 q/ha), indicating substantial yield potential if improved practices are widely adopted (Ali & Singh, 2021; Kumar et al., 2024) [1,5] .

Technology Gap: Varied between 2.2 and 3.5 q/ha, with a mean of 2.8 q/ha affected by soil fertility and weather variability (also observed by Morwal, 2018) [7] .

Technology Index: Mean of 5.0%, demonstrating high feasibility of adoption. [6,4,5] .

Economics

Economic analysis ( [3,5] .

Conclusion

Two-year study demonstrated that adoption of improved wheat variety WH 1105, along with recommended agronomic practices under FLDs, significantly enhanced yield and profitability compared to traditional farmer practices in Faridabad district. Improved practices increased grain yield, gross returns, and net returns with a superior benefit-cost ratio. The reduction in extension and technology gaps indicates that dissemination of appropriate production technologies can effectively bridge yield gaps under timely sown irrigated conditions. Overall, WH 1105 emerged as promising, profitable, and farmer-friendly options for irrigated wheat cultivation. Scaling up such demonstrations and promoting location-specific varieties and agronomic practices will be crucial for sustaining wheat productivity and enhancing farmers' income.

References

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