Impact of frontline demonstrations of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improved variety GW-451 on yield in Porbandar district of Gujarat state

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major cereal crop of Rabi season in district of Porbandar. The present investigation was done by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Junagadh Agricultural University, Khapat, Porbandar in its adopted villages. Front line demonstrations of varietal evaluations of wheat variety GW-451, were conducted at 30 farmers’ fields under 12 ha for three years. GW 451 was developed by Wheat Research Station, SDAU, Vijapur. The variety is recommended for irrigated, timely sown conditions in Gujarat state. The variety has resistance to black and brown rust. It also had better nutritional qualities with 36.4 ppm Fe and 40.1 ppm Zn content which will be useful in combating malnutrition. It has good grain quality. The performance of new high yielding variety was assessed in terms of the yield comparing with the local varieties and farmers practices. The improved technologies recorded a mean yield of 52.75, 48.63 and 43.50 q/ha during year 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively which was 9.64, 10.45 and 11.21 percent higher as compared to prevailing farmers’ practice. The average percent increase of three years in yield was recorded 10.43 percent in demonstrated plot. The performance parameters viz., technology gap, extension gap and technology index values were found 17.71 q/ha, 4.50 q/ha and 26.83 percent, respectively. Results depicts that the FLD is a successful tool to enhance the production and productivity of wheat crop through improve knowledge of farmers about improved variety of chickpea and its cultural practices.