Precautions for Autumn Sowing of Wheat

The autumn equinox has passed, and October is just around the corner. Farmers in wheat-growing regions are already busy with autumn sowing and planting. However, in recent years, warm winter weather has led to early sowing, resulting in less-than-ideal yields. Sowing too early can increase the risk of frost damage before winter, which hinders both quality and high productivity; sowing too late, on the other hand, is detrimental to yield improvement. Timely late sowing of winter wheat promotes robust growth before winter and ensures safe overwintering. Experience has shown that achieving high yields requires strict attention to soil preparation and sowing quality. Below, we’ll walk you through the key practices involved in wheat sowing.

1. Wheat Seed Preparation

First, carefully select high-quality wheat varieties based on local climate conditions and soil characteristics. Then, be sure to sun‑dry the seeds before sowing—typically twice, with at least one thorough drying session. Sunning is often overlooked by farmers, yet its purpose is to enhance seed germination and emergence rates, promote more robust root development, increase tillering, and ultimately stabilize yields. However, take care not to spread the seeds directly on a concrete surface during sunning, as this can scorch them.

2. Returning straw to the field must be given due attention.

When returning straw to the field, it must be finely chopped and evenly spread, then deeply buried and firmly compacted. Prior to plowing, apply a thorough irrigation to accelerate the decomposition of the straw. During microbial decomposition, large amounts of nitrogen are consumed; therefore, supplemental nitrogen fertilizer—such as ammonium bicarbonate or calcium superphosphate—should be applied to speed up the process and prevent issues like yellowing of wheat seedlings caused by nitrogen deficiency. In addition, take precautions against diseases and pests (e.g., treat with carbendazim or nitrobenzene at approximately 5 kg per mu) to avoid pathogenic fungi and pest eggs carried in the straw from inflicting severe damage to the next crop.

3. Apply sufficient base fertilizer

The principle of fertilization for wheat is to apply sufficient base fertilizer. For compound fertilizers, it is advisable to choose formulations with high nitrogen and high phosphorus content, such as Nongda’s microbial humic acid fertilizers—18-18-4 or 20-14-6, among others. Additionally, organic fertilizers should be applied in increased amounts; given that many regions in China have long relied on heavy chemical fertilizer use, resulting in insufficient soil organic matter, appropriately increasing the application of organic fertilizers can improve soil quality and contribute positively to both wheat yield and grain quality.

4. Fine Land Leveling

To improve soil structure and enhance its water‑retention and moisture‑conserving capacity, thorough pre‑sowing tillage is essential. The optimal plowing depth is 23–25 cm, which helps break up the plow pan and achieve the standards of deep, fine, well‑drained, level, compact, and adequately moist soil—resulting in a loose top layer and a firm subsoil. This approach strengthens the soil’s ability to retain water and nutrients, thereby improving wheat’s drought resistance and cold tolerance.

5. Seed Treatment

Strengthening wheat seed treatment—by thoroughly applying seed coatings or chemical seed dressings—can reduce the incidence of diseases in autumn seedlings, lower the overwintering pathogen reservoir, and control damage from underground pests during the seedling stage, thereby delaying the onset of diseases such as stripe rust, powdery mildew, and sheath blight.

Select appropriate fungicides based on the disease resistance and severity of wheat varieties in different regions, as well as prevailing climatic conditions and cultivation practices. Strictly control the dosage of seed‑treatment chemicals and prohibit exceeding the recommended application rate; sow immediately after treatment, prepare and apply the mixture fresh, and complete sowing on the same day. Appropriately increase the seed‑treatment dosage when using coated or treated seeds. When applying seed coatings or treatments, follow the instructions on the pesticide label.