Lahore:The Punjab Agriculture Department has advised farmers in rain-fed (barani) areas to cultivate department-approved wheat varieties to obtain a good yield.
A department spokesman said on Monday that the approved varieties included Shiraz-23, Urooj-22, Nishan-21, MA-21, Markaz-19, Barani-17, Fateh Jang-16 and Pakistan-13.
He said farmers should use 40 to 50 kilograms of seed per acre for wheat cultivation.
Wheat growers in barani areas should take the size of their fields into account when determining the quantities of seed, fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural inputs required, he added.
He said the recommended period for wheat cultivation in barani areas was from October 15 to November 15.
The spokesman advised farmers to use certified seeds of wheat varieties approved by the Punjab Agriculture Department. Before sowing, farmers should plough their fields using a conventional plough and use a plank to control weeds as they emerge.
He further advised growers to plough their fields twice before sowing and use a heavy plank to bring moisture to the upper layer of the soil.
He said wheat should be sown using a seed drill and that the entire recommended quantity of fertilizer should be applied during land preparation before sowing.