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 18^th November over other varieties on same date ofsowing. The early sowing (11^th November)gave 6.37% less grain yield compared to normal date (18^th 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 18^th November registered the highest gross return, net return and net benefit: cost ratio than the crop sown on 11^th and 25^th November. Wheat variety HI 8498 when sown on 18^th 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 25^th November) gave the lowest net returns and benefit: cost ratio.