SYSTEM OF WHEAT INTENSIFICATION: A SHORT REVIEW

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most important cereal food crop ranking first in India with respect to area and production of the total grain crops. In India major wheat area is under subtropical region. The cool and sunny winters are very conductive for growth of wheat crop. Wheat contributes more towards public distribution system (PDS) and has become backbone of country’s food security. Quality seed is a basic requirement to sustain any crop. Target yield of the crop depends on availability of quality seeds of improved varieties as effectiveness of agricultural inputs depends on seed potential. System of wheat intensification (SWI) is based on the principles of system of rice intensification (SRI), is a new wheat cultivation technique which demands to maintain proper spacing with proper plant density which allows for sufficient aeration, moisture, sunlight and nutrient availability leading to proper root development in early stage of crop growth till harvesting. The objective of this review is to show the advantage of SWI method against conventional method. SWI is the system of modified agronomic practices such as lower seed rate, seed treatment, sowing of seed proper spacing, which resulting higher ratio of tillers to mother seedlings, increased number of effective tillers, and bolder grains and finally enhanced yield of wheat. In the conventional system, farmers use about 100-140 kg/ha of seed but in the SWI method seed requirement is only 5-7% of conventional method. SWI is one of the promising technologies to increase productivity which ultimately contributes to the household level of food security of marginal farmers.