Response of wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties to sowing dates in Gird region of Madhya Pradesh

Afield experiment was conducted at Gwalior, India during rabi season 2011–12 to assess the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties to sowing dates. Significantly higher grain yield (60.82 q ha−1) was obtained from wheat variety HI 8498 sown on 18th November over other varieties on same date ofsowing. The early sowing (11th November)gave 6.37% less grain yield compared to normal date (18th November). The delayed sowing reduced the grain yield by 13.35% than normal date of sowing. Wheat variety HI 8498 had significantly higher protein content (12.75%) in grain over others. Similarly, early sown crop produced higher protein content compared to normal and delayed sown crop. All wheat varieties sown on 18th November registered the highest gross return, net return and net benefit: cost ratio than the crop sown on 11th and 25th November. Wheat variety HI 8498 when sown on 18th November (D2 V3) produced the highest gross return ( 112324 ha-1), net return ( 95410 ha-1) and benefit: cost ratio (5.64). However, the treatment combination D3V1 (variety GW 366 sown on 25th November) gave the lowest net returns and benefit: cost ratio.