Screening of Different Wheat Varieties for Growth under Late Sown Conditions in Western, U.P. India

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during the rabi season of 2024–25 at the Agronomic Research Farm, R.S.M. (P.G.) College, Dhampur, Bijnor (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with seven wheat varieties (DBW 303, DBW 187, DBW 222, HD 3086, SR 05, VARDAN 418, and HD 2967), and replicated thrice. At 60 DAS, HD 3086 recorded the tallest plants (54.67 cm), while SR 05 showed the shortest (47.60 cm). By 90 DAS, DBW 303 attained maximum height (94.00 cm), which was at par with DBW 187, DBW 222, and VARDAN 418. In contrast, at 60 and 90 DAS, SR 05 produced the maximum number of leaves (19.33 and 13.33 per plant), number of tillers (152.27 and 100.80 per meter row length), and dry matter accumulation (112.35 and 295.95 g per m row length), followed by DBW 303, while the minimum was observed in HD 2967. The results indicated that varietal differences strongly influenced growth traits under late-sown conditions. SR 05 expressed superior leaf production capacity, suggesting its adaptability and potential suitability for delayed planting situations, while DBW 303 maintained greater plant stature. These findings highlight the importance of varietal selection for optimizing wheat performance in late-sown environments of western Uttar Pradesh.