Impact of Sowing Dates and Weed Management Strategies on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Growth in Northern India

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a globally important grain crop, particularly in India. It is the second largest wheat producer after China, accounting for over 13.5% of world production. Wheat faces challenges including heat stress, weed competition, and diseases, with climate change threatening productivity, especially during grain filling. A study was conducted at Pilikothi Farm, T. D. P. G. College, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India during Rabi seasons 2018-19 and 2019-20. The experiment used a split-plot design with three replications. Main plot treatments included three sowing dates: November 15 (D1), 30 (D2), and December 15 (D3). Sub-plot treatments comprised six weed management practices: weedy check (W1), weed-free (W2), 2,4-DEE at 0.5 kg a.i./ha (W3), Carfentrazone at 0.025 kg a.i./ha (W4), Metsulfuron methyl at 0.004 kg a.i./ha (W5), and Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam 20% (W6). Wheat variety HD 2967 was planted using a seed drill at 100 kg ha-1. Field preparation involved tilling twice, followed by planking. Irrigation was performed as needed. Sowing dates and weed control methods significantly affected dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate (CGR), and relative growth rate (RGR) in wheat. Earlier sowing (November 15) led to higher dry matter accumulation. Hand weeding was most effective, with chemical methods outperforming the weedy check. Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam 20% (W6) was the most effective chemical treatment. CGR was highest for the earliest sowing date across all growth stages. The weed-free treatment showed the highest CGR, while the weedy check had the lowest. W6 and Carfentrazon performed best among chemical treatments. RGR showed no significant differences among sowing dates during early growth stages, but was highest for the earliest sowing date in the final stage (90 DAS-Harvest). Weed control measures had the most pronounced effect on RGR during the final stage. These findings emphasize the importance of early sowing and effective weed management for optimizing wheat growth and productivity, particularly when combining early sowing with appropriate chemical weed control measures, such as W6. The study demonstrates that early sowing dates and effective weed control measures, especially hand weeding and certain chemical herbicides like Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam 20%, significantly enhance dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, and relative growth rate in wheat crops.