1.9.1.2. Wheat

Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India after rice. Indian production of wheat is second in the world after China6. It is primarily a crop of temperate zone. Wheat needs about 75 cm of water and winter temperature of 10° to 15° C and summer temperature of 21°C to 26°C during ripening to produce a good crop. It requires a rainfall of 50 to 75 cm. Excessive rainfall is harmful to wheat crop. Roots of the plant are destroyed in standing water. Light loam soil is ideal. Hence, its cultivation in India is done during winter i.e. rabi season. Cultivation of wheat is not labour-intensive. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are five leading wheat producing states.