Haryana : HAU develops new heat-tolerant wheat
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, has introduced WH 1309, a late-sown wheat variety suited for high March temperatures (35–37°C). It offers 12.7% higher yields than WH 1124, maturing in 123 days with strong rust resistance. WH 1309 is ideal for delayed sowing, organic farming, saline soils, and chapati-quality grain.
Hisar: Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar, has developed a new late-sown wheat variety, WH 1309, which promises high yields even under high March temperatures of 35–37°C. The variety was developed by a team from the university’s Wheat and Barley Section, including Dr Vikram Singh, M.S. Dalal, O.P. Bishnoi, the late Divya Phogat, and others. Vice chancellor Prof B.R. Kamboj said WH 1309 was recommended by Haryana’s State Seed Sub-Committee. “Due to delayed paddy harvesting, waterlogging, or other factors, wheat sowing often gets delayed in 15–20% of Haryana’s fields. This new variety, developed for late sowing, will give farmers better returns,” he said.In irrigated trials, WH 1309 recorded an average yield of 55.4 quintals per hectare, with a maximum of 64.5 quintals per hectare. On farmers’ fields across Haryana, it yielded 54.3 quintals per hectare, about 12.7% higher than the existing WH 1124 variety (48.2 quintals per hectare). Even sowings done as late as January gave 40–50 quintals per hectare. The variety is resistant to yellow rust, brown rust, and other diseases, and is suitable for organic as well as saline areas.
It features long ears, bold and shiny grains, early maturity, and improved quality traits.Nutritional ValueAccording to agriculture dean SK Pahuja, WH 1309 produces ears in 83 days and matures in 123 days. With a plant height of 98 cm, the risk of lodging is minimal. The variety contains 13.2% protein, a hectolitre weight of 81.9 kg/HL, and a sedimentation value of 54 ml, making it suitable for chapati-making and nutrition. Research director Rajbir Garg advised that sowing should be done between Dec 1–20, using 125 kg seed per hectare. For best results, farmers should apply 150 kg nitrogen, 60 kg phosphorus, 30 kg potash, and 25 kg zinc sulphate per hectare. “This variety will prove to be a boon for late sowing conditions,” Dr Garg said.
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Source : The Times Of India
